What happened
On the morning of 07 November 2015, a Piper PA-28-180, registration ZS-FHG, was preparing for a navigation flight exercise from Port Elizabeth International Airport (FAPE) to George. The flight was part of a training exercise for a private pilot. Before departure, the aircraft had been refueled with 59 litres of Avgas, though the refueller noted that the engine was difficult to start, requiring three attempts before it remained running.
Shortly after taking off from runway 26, the pilot reported an engine emergency at approximately 60 and 600 feet AGL, stating that the engine was cutting out and requesting permission to land back on the runway. While the air traffic controller worked to manage other aircraft on the runway, the aircraft initiated a right-hand turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft lost altitude rapidly, stalled, and struck the airport's wildlife exclusion perimeter fence. The impact was followed by a post-impact fire fueled by the aircraft's remaining fuel, which destroyed the wreckage and caused the fatal death of the pilot.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the flight history, maintenance records, and air traffic control transcripts. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's engine had struggled to start prior to takeoff. Radar imagery showed the aircraft's altitude dropping significantly during its final turn. Investigators also reviewed the pilot's training records, noting that the pilot was a 22-year-old trainee with 126.5 total flying hours and had been trained in emergency procedures, including forced landings.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an unsuccessful forced landing following an engine failure.
- The pilot failed to utilize the available runway length and clearway to perform a successful landing.
- The accident was compounded by the pilot's non-adherence to the standard emergency procedures outlined in the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH).
- The aircraft's impact with the perimeter fence and subsequent fire resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft.