History of Flight
On 17 October 2008, the pilot, accompanied by two passengers, landed at the private airfield Hermanus Dorings for a family weekend at Tswana Lodge, approximately 38 km from Lephalale in Limpopo Province. The following morning, the pilot inspected the runway at Tswana Lodge with the lodge owner, then flew the aircraft from Hermanus Dorings to Tswana Lodge without incident. In the afternoon, the pilot took the two passengers on a sightseeing flight.
A witness residing on Farm Donkerhoek reported hearing an aircraft at approximately 1505Z. At 1530Z, he saw the aircraft lose momentum and fall to the ground. He rushed to the accident site and observed flames coming from the aircraft, with two people struggling to free themselves. The aircraft then exploded, pushing him back.
According to the only surviving occupant (one of the passengers), after the lodge was overflown twice, it appeared they were coming in to land but were too high and too fast. The aircraft touched down hard on the runway, but the pilot immediately lifted it back into the air, and it seemed they were unable to land due to insufficient runway remaining. The aircraft then impacted trees before hitting the ground.
Injuries and Damage
The accident resulted in two fatalities: the pilot and one passenger who succumbed to injuries two weeks later. One passenger was seriously injured and treated for burn wounds, spending nearly six months in hospital before discharge. The aircraft was destroyed by a post-impact fire. Bush vegetation in an area approximately 57 m in diameter was burnt.
Investigation
The aircraft, a Piper PA32-300 (registration ZS-FVL, serial number 32-40621, manufactured 1969), was owned by Salto Trading (one) cc. The pilot, aged 60, held a valid Private Pilot License and had 548.2 total flying hours as of 18 September 2007. He had two previous accidents: a loss of directional control on landing in 2004 and a forced landing due to engine failure on both engines in 2006.
The wreckage was found 246.4 m from the end of the runway threshold at Tswana Lodge, on Farm Donkerhoek, at GPS coordinates S 23° 55.088′ E 027° 54.177′. The aircraft initially impacted trees 189.4 m from the threshold at an approximate 45° nose-down attitude, then struck the ground. The post-impact fire likely resulted from fuel tank rupture and ignition by the hot engine. The propeller exhibited chord-wise scratching and torsional damage, indicating the engine was developing power at impact.
No communication with air traffic control occurred, as the flight was outside controlled airspace. The airfield at Tswana Lodge was unlicensed and lacked rescue or fire services. Delays in medical treatment—nearly three hours due to jurisdictional confusion between police districts—reduced the chances of survival for the injured passengers.
Probable Cause
The aircraft impacted the ground after an unsuccessful landing and go-around attempt.