Cessna 172K Forced Landing at Grand Central Airport (ZS-PYJ)

Accident Overview and Location Details On 11 May 2016, a Cessna 172K aircraft, registration ZS-PYJ, was involved in an accident during a night navigational exercise. The aircraft force-landed in an open field located approximately 550 meters from the threshold of Runway 35 at Grand Central Airport (FAGC) in Gauteng, South Africa. The specific GPS coordinates of the accident site were S25° 59' 48.53'', E028° 08' 58.03''. The field elevation was recorded at 5,238 feet above mean sea level. ## Flight History and Operational Context The pilot, a 26-year-old male holding a valid Private Pilot Licence (PPL), was conducting a night navigation exercise with a passenger who was also a pilot. The flight was part of a training operation under Part 91. The pilot had a total of 141.2 flying hours, with 66.8 hours on the Cessna 172 type. The aircraft was rented from Flight Training Services and was operated privately. ## Sequence of Events The pilot took off at 20:50Z on 10 May 2016 with full fuel tanks, having uplifted 37.2 US gallons. The route included stops at Krugersdorp Airport (FAKD), Rustenburg Airport (FARG), and Pilanesberg Airport (FAPS) before returning to FAGC. During the return leg, the pilot reported being low on fuel when two minutes from the airfield. While on short final approach to Runway 35, the engine stopped. The pilot attempted three unsuccessful restarts. The aircraft then force-landed on an uneven open field, colliding with several anthills before flipping over and coming to rest on its vertical stabiliser. ## Injuries and Damage Both the pilot and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The aircraft suffered substantial damage to the nose landing gear, nose section, left wing struts, and vertical stabiliser. No other damage was reported. ## Investigation Findings The post-accident investigation determined that the engine stopped due to fuel exhaustion. The probable cause of the accident was an unsuccessful forced landing following the loss of power. Contributing factors included the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, poor flight planning, and the uneven landing surface. The aircraft was equipped with standard factory-fitted navigational equipment and a VHF radio, with no recorded defects prior to the flight. The aircraft was not equipped with a flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder, as neither was required by regulations.