History of the Flight
On 1 January 2008 at 0900Z, a Piper PA28-180, registration ZS-ELT, departed Mosselbay Aerodrome on a private flight to Beaufort West Aerodrome with the pilot and three passengers. The pilot was in contact with Cape Town air traffic control at 0930Z, reporting an altitude of 5000 feet. At approximately 0955Z, the wreckage was discovered by motorists on the Swartberg mountain pass, surrounded by fog. A watch from one of the deceased indicated the impact likely occurred at 0940Z.
Injuries
All four occupants sustained fatal injuries.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Piper PA28-180 (serial number 28-2917) manufactured in 1965, with a total of 4466.5 airframe hours. The engine was a Lycoming O-360-A3A, and the propeller a Sensinich 76EM8514-O-60. The aircraft was equipped with a Garmin 100 GPS and a Garmin 296 GPS, as well as a Bendix King KX 175B VHF radio. No defects were recorded with the navigation or communication equipment.
Meteorological Information
According to the South African Weather Services, a cold front passing south of the country brought moist onshore flow, causing orographic cloud over the mountains. At the accident site, the temperature was 18°C, dew point 17°C, wind 100° true north at 10 knots, visibility 50 metres or less in cloud, with overcast cloud on the ground.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The aircraft struck the Swartberg Mountain at approximately 4985 feet elevation at coordinates S 33° 21.31 E 022° 3.07, about 36 metres above the pass road. The impact angle was approximately 5° nose-up with the right wing low, indicating the aircraft was in a turn. The direction of impact was 049° magnetic. The aircraft was destroyed; both wings sustained damage, fuel tanks ruptured, engine separated and was found 36 metres below the main wreckage, and the propeller was found 23 metres to the right.
Probable Cause
The aircraft impacted with terrain in poor visibility conditions.