History of Flight
On 16 July 2018, a Super Decathlon 8KCAB BL30, registration N53757, departed Mwana Private Airstrip in Limpopo Province at 1200Z with the intention of routing to Brits Airfield (FABS) in North West Province to uplift fuel. The aircraft was occupied solely by the pilot. According to a pre-flight discussion between the pilots of N53757 and another aircraft (ZS-AXX), they planned to route via Roodekoppies Dam for a scenic flight.
While flying over the dam at approximately 400 feet above ground level, the pilot reported that the engine began running rough. He attempted to recover engine power but was unsuccessful. The engine then lost power and stopped. The pilot initiated a glide but had insufficient altitude to reach the shore, leading to a ditching into the water.
The pilot communicated his situation to the other aircraft, which broadcasted for rescue help. The pilot unbuckled, exited through the right-hand door, and swam to the left shore of the dam. A helicopter arrived at the scene, picked up the pilot, and transported him to a local hospital for observation. The pilot sustained no injuries.
Eyewitnesses on the northern bank of the dam observed two aircraft approaching from the north. The red-and-white aircraft (N53757) was flying lower than the other. It descended rapidly toward the water, contacted the surface with its front wheels at high speed, flipped over, and began to sink. The pilot was seen jumping into the water and swimming ashore.
Injuries
The pilot did not sustain any injuries during the accident sequence.
Damage to Aircraft
The aircraft sustained visible damage to the engine bottom cowlings before becoming fully submerged. It was recovered seven days after the accident.
Engine Investigation
The engine was recovered for further investigation. No evidence of internal or external damage was found that could explain the power loss and subsequent stoppage. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advisory circular AC 20-105B was studied but could not conclusively identify the cause of engine power loss or stoppage. The investigation determined that the aircraft had sufficient fuel for the intended flight.
Conclusions
The aircraft's engine lost power and stopped, resulting in a loss of altitude and impact with the dam's water surface. The cause of engine failure could not be determined.