What happened
On the evening of 16 August 2019, a Cessna 172 with registration ZS-LMI departed Grand Central Aerodrome (FAGC) for a scheduled night rating training flight. The flight, which was intended to include various maneuvers such as steep turns and instrument approaches, was being conducted by a flight instructor and a student pilot. The aircraft had been refueled to capacity prior to departure.
No flight plan was filed for this operation, and the aircraft did not establish contact with Johannesburg radar. The aircraft was not reported missing until the following morning when the operator realized it had not returned to the aerodrome. Following the activation of a search and rescue mission by the Aeronautical Search and Rescue Coordination Centre, the wreckage was located in an open field near the N4 highway, north of Pretoria. The impact resulted in 2 fatalities and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage and the circumstances surrounding the flight. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was fully fueled and had been operating normally earlier that day. A witness near Magaliesberg Mountain reported seeing a bright light and hearing a loud bang at approximately 1700Z on the night of the accident.
Technical examination of the CessNA 172 wreckage revealed no mechanical failures or engine faults. The investigation also noted that the aircraft was not visible on secondary radar, as no squawk code had been allocated by air traffic control.
Findings
- The aircraft was performing a night rating training syllabus, which included steep turns.
- The crew likely lost control of the aircraft during a steep left turn at a low altitude.
- The aircraft was unable to recover from this maneuver, leading to the ground impact.
- There were no pre-existing mechanical defects found in the aircraft prior to the crash.