What happened
On 30 July 2011, a Cessna 177A, registration ZS-FPK, was conducting a pattern training flight for an instructor's rating under an aviation training organisation. The flight began at Grand Central Aerodrome (FAGC), proceeding to Brits Aerodrome (FABS), where the crew landed without incident.
During the return leg from FABS to FAGC, the aircraft was flying at a low altitude when it struck terrain in the Magaliesburg ridge area. An eyewitness observed the aircraft passing overhead at a low altitude before hearing a loud impact. Upon inspecting the site, the witness discovered the aircraft overturned in a valley. Both occupants of the aircraft, the instructor and the student pilot, sustained two fatalities.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and the flight history of the crew. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was properly maintained by an authorized maintenance organization and that both pilots held valid licenses and ratings. The aircraft was equipped with all required navigation and communication equipment, and no mechanical defects were reported prior to the accident.
On-site inspections of the wreckage revealed that the aircraft's control surfaces and cables were intact. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's impact with a tree on the left wing preceded its final position upside down. While the weather was clear with good visibility, the investigation focused on the flight path and altitude during the final leg of the journey.