What happened
On 9 December 2014, a Rockwell S2R-T34 aircraft, registration ZS-LJT, was engaged in an aerial herbicide spraying mission at a pine plantation near Ugie, Eastern Cape. After successfully completing an initial spray run, the pilot returned to Ugie Aerodrome to reload. During the second sortie, camera operators monitoring the operation noticed the aircraft was failing to return as expected.
A safety officer, flying a second aircraft, investigated the site and discovered the wreckage of ZS-LJT burning against a steep mountain face. Upon reaching the site by ground, a search party found the pilot alive but severely injured, located approximately 20 meters away from the burning debris. The pilot later succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators established that the aircraft was airworthy and properly maintained at the time of the accident. The investigation focused on the flight path near the spray site, where the terrain is characterized by steep mountains. Evidence at the scene showed the aircraft had impacted the top of a cliff at least twice before falling down a vertical face.
Investigators noted that the aircraft's wreckage was broken in half and heavily damaged by post-impact fire. While it remains unclear how the pilot was separated from the cockpit during the sequence, the pilot was able to communicate to the safety officer that the accident occurred during a maneuver intended to avoid the terrain.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot stalling the aircraft during a low-level turn.
- The steep turn required to avoid the cliff increased drag and stall speed, making recovery impossible at such a low altitude.
- Contributing factors included the presence of steep mountains near the spray site and improper flight planning for the terrain.
- The aircraft was under power at the moment of impact.