What happened
On 17 April 2012, a Beechcraft Baron 58, registration ZS-TVT, departed Port Elizabeth International Airport for a repositioning flight to Cape Town. Shortly after the 1214Z departure, air traffic controllers lost radar contact with the aircraft. Within minutes, reports emerged that the plane had crashed on a private farm near the Draaifontein road, roughly 24 kilometers northwest of Port Elizabeth. The impact was extremely violent, resulting in one fatality and the total destruction of the aircraft. Witnesses near the area observed the aircraft banking into a cloud layer before hearing the sound of an impact.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and the aircraft's engines to determine if a mechanical failure played a role. The investigation established that the engines and propellers showed no evidence of internal malfunction or catastrophic failure prior to the crash. The damage found on the airframe and components was consistent with a high-speed, nose-down impact with the ground. While the aircraft was equipped for instrument flight, the investigation focused on the transition from visual to instrument meteorological conditions. Additionally, investigators noted that the pilot's medical certificate had expired at the time of the accident.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating in overcast conditions with a cloud base of approximately 2000 feet AMSL.
- There was no evidence of any pre-impact structural or engine failure.
- The aircraft was within its weight and balance limits and had recently undergone a mandatory periodic inspection.
- The pilot entered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and, while attempting to maintain visual flight rules (VFR), failed to maintain sufficient clearance from the terrain.