What happened
On the afternoon of 19 June 2015, a Cessna C210J Centurion, registration ZS-FPJ, departed from the Piesangshoek airstrip in the Limpopo province. The aircraft was on a private flight intended for Nelspruit aerodrome. While the initial takeoff from the 1000m runway appeared normal, the aircraft experienced a significant loss of power during the climb phase at approximately 100 feet above ground level.
As the engine power diminished, the pilot attempted an emergency landing in an open field. During the maneuver, the aircraft entered a near-vertical descent after the right wing dropped, striking tree stumps on an uphill slope. The impact triggered a severe fuel-fed fire that consumed the wreckage. The pilot, who sustained only minor injuries to the hand, managed to exit the burning aircraft through the right-hand door.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID examined the mechanical state of the aircraft and the pilot's actions during the emergency. The aircraft's maintenance records were found to be valid, and the engine had undergone a periodic inspection recently. Meteorological conditions at the time were clear with good visibility.
Technical examination of the engine revealed that the engine-driven fuel pump had seized. This seizure caused a sheared drive pin, which subsequently led to fuel starvation and the loss of engine power. Investigators also reviewed the pilot's flight profile and the use of onboard emergency systems.