History
On 4 May 2006, the aircraft took off from Lanseria Aerodrome at approximately 0810Z on a private flight to Madikwe Game Reserve with an estimated time of arrival of 0915Z. The aircraft did not arrive as planned, prompting a search mission. The wreckage was found the next morning in the mountain range inside Madikwe Game Reserve at GPS coordinates S 24° 52.354' E 026° 13.537', elevation 4068 ft AMSL. The pilot was fatally injured during the accident sequence. The accident occurred during daylight conditions with reported mist/fog and limited visibility.
Aircraft and Flight Information
The aircraft was a Cessna 172R (serial number 172-80082), registered ZS-OBX, manufactured in 1997. It was equipped with a Lycoming IO-360-L2A engine and a McCauley propeller. The aircraft was destroyed after colliding with mountainous terrain. According to satellite tracking data, the last recorded position was 16.67 km from the accident site, with a time of 09:14:56Z and speed of 220 km/h. The distance from the accident site to the Madikwe runway was 4.26 km.
Pilot Information
The pilot, a 54-year-old German male, held a valid Private Pilot Licence with a type endorsement for the Cessna 172. He had no instrument or night ratings. Total flying experience was 629 hours, with 133.3 hours on type. His medical certificate required corrective lenses.
Meteorological Conditions
Local residents reported fog/misty conditions with drastically reduced visibility around the time of the accident. One resident stated visibility was so poor that she could not see anything while driving. The fog/mist cleared around 0900Z.
Wreckage and Impact
The aircraft impacted the mountainside in a straight and level attitude. Both wings struck rocks and trees and separated from the aircraft. The cabin, roof, and undercarriage were destroyed by impact forces. The wreckage path length from first impact to main wreckage stop was 95.1 m. There was no pre- or post-impact fire. Assessment indicated the engine was at full power at impact.
Medical Information
A post-mortem examination concluded the cause of death was primary skull and brain injuries. Forensic chemistry analysis detected a carboxyhemoglobin concentration of at least 7% in the blood sample, though a reliable determination could not be made due to high methaemoglobin content.
Survival
The high-impact forces led to destruction of the cabin and aircraft; the accident was considered not survivable.