What happened
On the evening of 26 August 2020, a Cessna 172F, registration ZS-OET, was conducting a night training flight at Springs Aerodrome (FASI) in Gauteng. The flight was part of a night rating program for a private pilot, with a flight instructor on board to provide supervision.
During the third circuit of the flight, the aircraft was observed on a left downwind leg for Runway 03. CCTV footage from the aerodrome captured the aircraft flying at an altitude lower than the prescribed circuit height. As the aircraft initiated a left turn toward the base leg, the left wing struck a tree approximately 70 feet in height. The impact caused the pilot to lose control, resulting in a 360-degree left roll before the aircraft struck the terrain in an upright position. The impact destroyed the aircraft. The private pilot was fatally injured, while the flight instructor sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
An investigation by the SACAA AIID examined the flight sequence, aircraft condition, and training protocols. Investigators reviewed CCTV footage from three different cameras at the aerodrome, which documented the low-altitude descent and the subsequent collision.
Technical inspections of the Cessna 172F revealed no mechanical or engine failures; all damage to the airframe was consistent with the impact sequence. The investigation also looked into the operational procedures of the Aviation Training Organisation (ATO). It was noted that the flight instructor had been asked to stand in for a colleague who had fallen ill and had not personally conducted the pre-flight theoretical briefing.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the left wing of the aircraft impacting a tree during the turn from the downwind leg to the base leg.
- The crew failed to adhere to the ATO training manual, which requires a minimum operating height of 500ft AGL at night.
- The flight instructor provided inadequate in-flight supervision and failed to personally conduct the pre-flight briefing.
- There was no evidence of any attempt by the crew to perform evasive maneuvers prior to the collision.