No fatalities

Belly Landing After Left Engine Failure Near Johannesburg Airport (ZS-LKG)

Johannesburg-Oliver Reginald Tambo (Jan Smuts), South AfricaTakeoff (climb)

On November 18, 1988, a Swearingen SA226 Metro II (registration ZS-LKG) operated by Magnum Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Johannesburg-Oliver Reginald Tambo (Jan Smuts), South Africa during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the left engine shortly after takeoff for unknown reasons. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered ZS-LKG
Aircraft registered ZS-LKG. Photo: Uli Elch / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

After left engine failure on takeoff from Johannesburg-Jan Smuts Airport, crew attempted return but performed belly landing in a nearby field. All 12 occupants evacuated uninjured; aircraft destroyed.

Incident Overview

Shortly after departing Johannesburg-Jan Smuts Airport, the flight crew declared an emergency following the failure of the left engine. The pilots elected to return to the airport, but were unable to reach the runway and instead executed a belly landing in a field adjacent to the airport.

Occupant Status

All 12 persons aboard the aircraft evacuated without injury. No injuries were reported among the occupants.

Aircraft Damage

The aircraft sustained substantial damage during the belly landing and was subsequently assessed as damaged beyond economical repair.

Probable Cause

According to the official investigation, the accident was caused by the failure of the left engine shortly after takeoff for unknown reasons.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 18 Nov 1988 Swearingen SA226 Metro II accident near Johannesburg-Oliver Reginald Tambo (Jan Smuts), South Africa?

After left engine failure on takeoff from Johannesburg-Jan Smuts Airport, crew attempted return but performed belly landing in a nearby field. All 12 occupants evacuated uninjured; aircraft destroyed.

Were there any fatalities in the 18 Nov 1988 Swearingen SA226 Metro II accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 18 Nov 1988 involved a Swearingen SA226 Metro II, registration ZS-LKG, operated by Magnum Airlines, at Johannesburg-Oliver Reginald Tambo (Jan Smuts), South Africa.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Failure of the left engine shortly after takeoff for unknown reasons.