History of Flight
On 25 April 2008, the pilot flew the aircraft (registration ZS-MSR) from Krokodilspruit Farm to Wonderboom aerodrome to fit a new battery. After landing, a left main gear tire with flat spots was replaced. The aircraft then flew to Schweizer-Reneke and back to Wonderboom, where it was refuelled before returning to Krokodilspruit.
The following day, 26 April 2008, at approximately 1100Z, the pilot and two passengers departed from Krokodilspruit Farm private aerodrome near Cullinan, Gauteng, for a private flight to Volksrust aerodrome. The intention was to drop off the pilot's son. During the take-off roll, the aircraft veered to the left and departed the runway. The left main gear climbed a mound before the left wing struck a tree atop the mound. The left main gear and wing separated, and the aircraft caught fire after coming to a halt. The pilot and the son died at the scene. The other passenger escaped with serious burn injuries and was hospitalised.
Witness Accounts
A passenger who survived reported that during the take-off roll he looked down, then felt the aircraft lift off. The pilot then abandoned the control yoke and asked for help. The passenger applied left rudder, and the left wing collided with a tree. He jumped out and sustained serious burns.
Another witness at the runway threshold heard the engine sound as normal but noted the speed was low. As the aircraft passed near a tree, he saw a lot of dust. He drove to the scene and found the aircraft ablaze.
A witness seated near the runway's midpoint observed that the left main wheel appeared not to be turning while the right wheel was turning. The aircraft then changed direction, went up an embankment on the left, and collided with a tree. He saw the surviving passenger escape and instructed him to roll on the grass to extinguish flames.
A fourth witness, at the runway start, saw the right wing lift, then the left wing hit the tree, followed by fire. A fifth witness noted that the aircraft was not airborne at the normal lift-off point, veered left, and struck a tree.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Cessna T210L (serial number 210-60707), manufactured in 1975, with a Continental TSIO 520-H engine and a McCauley propeller. The last mandatory periodic inspection was on 21 February 2008 at 5144.2 hours. The pilot had 109.2 total flying hours, with 4.7 hours on type (dual), and no type endorsement was recorded. The pilot held a private pilot licence issued on 3 September 2007 and was 40 years old. The runway at Krokodilspruit was gravel, 800 metres long and 13 metres wide, designated 11/29. A dam on the left side could cause water to run across the runway about 450 metres from the threshold, leaving loose sand on the surface.
Probable Cause
The probable cause was loss of directional control during the take-off roll, resulting in the aircraft departing the runway and colliding with a tree before bursting into flames. Contributory factors included the pilot's limited experience on the aircraft type and the runway condition.