What happened
On 20 February 2010, a private flight involving a Beechcraft Baron E55, registration ZS-PTC, ended in a fatal accident near Hoopstad aerodrome in the Free State. The flight had originally departed from Hoopstad with the intention of landing at New Tempe aerodrome in Bloemfontein. However, approximately twenty minutes into the flight, the pilot received a telephone call from someone at the departure aerodrome requesting a fly-past.
Following this request, the pilot returned to Hoopstad. After successfully performing the fly-pass in view of several witnesses, the aircraft entered a climbing phase. During a right-hand turn, the aircraft entered an extreme bank angle of approximately 70 degrees. Although the pilot attempted to correct the attitude, the aircraft had already lost significant altitude. The Beechcraft Baron E55 subsequently struck a mealiefield roughly 500 meters north of the runway in a nose-down, left-wing-low attitude. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and the death of the pilot.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and the flight history of the aircraft. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was well-maintained, with a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and a recent periodic inspection. There were no mechanical anomalies found in the wreckage; specifically, the control cables remained continuous, and the condition of the propellers indicated that the engines were still under power at the moment of impact.
Regarding the flight parameters, the aircraft was within its weight limitations at the time of the accident. Meteorological conditions were favorable, with clear visibility and light winds. The pilot was noted to be highly experienced, with nearly 9,800 total flying hours and extensive experience operating this specific aircraft type at Hoopstad aerodrome.