What happened
On 13 October 2017, a Piper 28-235, registration ZS-ELS, departed Wonderboom Airport for Florence Guest Farm near Chrissiesmeer. The flight, conducted under private operations, was intended to transport a pilot and a passenger to a wedding event.
As the flight progressed, weather conditions began to deteriorate significantly. While the pilot had previously received updates regarding cloud bases, new cloud formations were moving into the area. During the flight, the aircraft encountered low cloud cover that dropped to approximately 500 to 600 feet above ground level.
After the aircraft failed to arrive at its destination, the location of the wreckage was discovered through the use of a mobile phone tracking application. The farm owner and local police located the crash site at Tevreden Pan. The aircraft had impacted the ground in a nose-low attitude at high speed, leaving a 4-meter trough. A post-impact fire destroyed the aircraft, and both the pilot and the passenger sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and meteorological data to determine the sequence of events. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was well-maintained, with its last mandatory periodic inspection completed in November 2016. Technical analysis of the wreckage showed no evidence of engine or flight control failure prior to impact.
Investigators also reviewed weather reports from the South African Weather Services, which indicated that while the flight began in clear conditions, the aircraft eventually entered Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). Satellite imagery suggested the pilot may have encountered a band of clouds and attempted to maneuver around or beneath them to maintain visual reference with the ground.
Findings
- The pilot was flying without an instrument rating, which meant the aircraft was not authorized to operate in the IMC conditions encountered during the flight.
- The aircraft was flying at an elevation of 5749 feet AMSL, striking rising terrain in an area where peaks reach up to 5941 feet AMSL.
- The pilot attempted to fly below the cloud base to maintain visual contact with the ground, which led to the aircraft striking rising terrain.
- The pilot had not filed a flight plan, which could have facilitated a more timely search and rescue response.
- The weather conditions, characterized by broken clouds and low ceilings, were below the minimum requirements for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.