What happened
On 15 March 2020, a private flight departing from Groutville Airfield in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, ended in a fatal accident in the uMkhomazi River valley. The pilot, operating a Sling 4 TSi with registration ZU-IPS, had initially flown two successful circuits above the local mountain peaks. During the third circuit, the aircraft descended into the valley to fly at a height of approximately 350 feet AGL. While performing a left-hand turn to head upstream, the aircraft struck a high-rising cliff. The impact and a subsequent post-impact fire destroyed the aircraft, and the pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators established that the weather conditions at the time of the accident were clear with good visibility and minimal wind. Eyewitnesses noted that the aircraft had been flying low and slow along the river, appearing to observe a canoeist marathon race that was underway in the area. The investigation confirmed that the pilot was a licensed professional and a well-known canoeist champion. The aircraft, which was relatively new, was found to be in a serviceable condition with no recorded mechanical defects that contributed to the crash. However, the investigation noted that the pilot's flight path at such a low altitude over an assembly of persons was in contravention of civil aviation regulations regarding minimum heights.
Findings
- The pilot was flying at a low altitude within the valley to observe the ongoing river race.
- The aircraft was performing a left-side turn pattern similar to previous circuits when it encountered the terrain.
- The pilot misjudged the aircraft's proximity to the cliff during the turn.
- The aircraft was destroyed by the force of the impact and the resulting fire.