What happened
On the morning of 3 September 2017, a Cessna 172M, registration ZS-JDN, departed from Wonderboom Aerodrome (FAWB) for a private flight intended to visit the Hartbeespoort Dam area. The aircraft was operated under Part 91 regulations with two occupants on board. Following departure, the aircraft flew toward the Magaliesberg Mountain Range, maintaining a route south of the mountains and north of Lanseria International Aerodrome airspace.
Later that morning, a local farmer discovered the wreckage after noticing smoke rising from a mountainside. The impact had occurred in a rocky, mountainous area, and a subsequent fuel-fed fire destroyed much of the aircraft and ignited surrounding vegetation. Both occupants sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and flight details to reconstruct the sequence of events. While the investigation could not definitively identify which occupant was operating the controls at the moment of impact, the analysis focused on the flight path and environmental factors. The investigation noted that the aircraft was within its weight and balance limitations and that all required certifications for the aircraft and the pilot-in-command were valid.
Investigators also considered the presence of high-tension cables and a known bird sanctuary for Cape Griffons in the vicinity of the accident site. The wreckage was found in an inverted position, and the intense post-impact fire prevented a detailed determination of whether any mechanical malfunctions had occurred during the flight.