What happened
On 08 August 2015, a private flight departing from Morningstar aerodrome in Cape Town ended in a fatal accident. The aircraft, a Challenger II with registration ZS-WVV, was conducting a short recreational flight when it failed to return to its departure point as expected. After the aircraft became untraceable for approximately two hours, a search aircraft was deployed. The wreckage was discovered on Blouberg farm, roughly 3 nautical miles west of the aerodrome. The impact was severe, destroying the aircraft and resulting in 2 fatalities.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found that the engine was still producing power at the moment of impact, evidenced by damage to the propeller tips. The aircraft was found to be within its weight and balance limits, and the engine and flight controls were fully functional prior to the crash. There was no evidence of structural failure or fuel contamination. Medical examinations of the occupants revealed that both the pilot and the passenger died from multiple blunt force injuries sustained during the high-energy impact.
Findings
Analysis of the pilot's medical history and post-mortem results revealed that the pilot suffered from advanced atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. The investigation concluded that the most likely cause of the accident was physical incapacitation of the pilot due to a pre-existing cardiac condition, which led to a loss of aircraft control. While the pilot held a valid medical certificate, the presence of significant arterial disease presented a high risk for a sudden coronary event.
Safety action
Following the investigation, a recommendation was made for the Director of Civil Aviation to review the protocols regarding how various illnesses and medical conditions are assessed against the established standards for issuing aviation licenses.