What happened
On the morning of 04 March 2017, a pilot departed from Kliprivier Airfield in Gauteng for a planned scenic flight around the Vaal Dam and Heidelberg regions. After a brief call to his spouse at 0530Z, the pilot took off from runway 02 at approximately 0543Z. The aircraft, a Cheetah XLS with registration ZU-FIF, was flying at a low altitude and had not yet climbed to the standard circuit height of 6500 feet.
While maintaining an easterly heading, the aircraft encountered two rows of high-tension power cables. In an attempt to avoid a collision with these lines, the pilot initiated a right-hand turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck rising terrain near the cables. A local witness reported hearing a loud bang followed by black smoke rising from the site. The impact was severe, causing the aircraft to nose over and break the tubular frame; a post-impact fire subsequently destroyed the airframe. The pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and flight details to determine the sequence of events. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was airworthy, properly maintained, and that the pilot held a valid national pilot's licence. Meteorological reports indicated clear skies and good visibility at the time of the accident, meaning weather conditions were not a contributing factor.
Investigators also looked into the aircraft's emergency equipment. Although the Cheetah XLS was equipped with a BRS rocket parachute system, the activation handle was found still in its holder, indicating the pilot did not deploy the system manually. The parachute canopy was found extended, but this was a result of the rocket firing due to the force of the impact rather than pilot intervention.