What happened
On 21 July 2010, a Cessna 182, registration ZS-RGN, crashed into Bakenkop Mountain during a private flight. The aircraft had departed from Nelspruit aerodrome for a return trip to Hoedspruit Civil aerodrome under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). Earlier that day, the pilot had completed an uneventful flight between the two locations. Before the afternoon departure, the pilot performed a standard pre-flight inspection and refueled the aircraft with Avgas 100LL.
During the flight, the pilot established contact with Kruger Mpumalanga control, requesting a climb to 5500 feet. Air traffic control initially restricted the altitude to 4500 feet due to traffic and instructed the pilot to remain west of Legogot Mountain and the R40 road. Although the pilot was later cleared to climb to 5500 feet, the aircraft disappeared from radar during the descent. Search and rescue teams located the wreckage approximately 28 nautical miles south of Hoedspruit. The impact with the mountain at roughly 4500 feet altitude resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and two fatalities.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and found no evidence of mechanical failure, engine issues, or in-flight emergencies prior to the impact. The aircraft was found to be airworthy and properly maintained. The investigation also reviewed meteorological data, which indicated broken to overcast clouds in the area, with a cloud base reported at 2000 feet AGL by nearby stations.
Investigators noted that while the aircraft was equipped for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), the pilot did not hold an IFR rating. Additionally, the aircraft's transponder was inoperative at the time of the accident, and the lack of an emergency locator transmitter complicated the initial search efforts. Radar data showed the aircraft descending from 5500 feet back to 4500 feet before the collision.