What happened
On 18 June 2006, a tandem introductory flight involving a Fly Products home-built powered parachute (PPC) ended in a fatal accident in the Cato Ridge area. The pilot, an instructor with approximately 1,000 flying hours, was conducting a flight for a visiting passenger. While flying at a low altitude along the Duzi River, the pilot attempted to avoid power lines that spanned the river.
During the maneuver, the aircraft's trike unit passed beneath the cables while the canopy wing passed over them. This contact caused the aircraft to slide along the lines, eventually breaking two power cables. The falling cables landed on the trike as it struck the ground. The impact caused the undercarriage to collapse and the propeller to break. Following the crash, the pilot and passenger were subjected to multiple electrical shocks as the broken lines triggered automated power pulses. While the passenger managed to unbuckle and escape, the pilot succumbed to his injuries later in the passenger's arms.
The investigation
SACAA AIID examined the circumstances of the flight, noting that the pilot was flying in hazy conditions within a valley. The investigation established that the aircraft was in good mechanical condition prior to the event and that the pilot held a valid instructor license. The investigation also noted that the impact with the ground caused a brief fuel fire from the carburettors, which extinguished on its own.
Findings
- The aircraft was a home-built PPC utilizing a Rotax 503 engine.
- The flight was a tandem introductory flight.
- Hazy visibility in the valley contributed to the difficulty in spotting the hazards.
- The primary cause of the accident was the collision with power lines during low-level flight.