Background
On 23 November 2000, a Cessna 185, registration ZS-EFZ, was conducting circuits and landings at Syferfontein airfield. At 10h42, the aircraft crashed, killing all three pilots on board. The point of impact was approximately 630 meters from the threshold of Runway 31, along the extended centreline, and 165 meters to the left.
Initial Investigation
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) released a report on 13 May 2002, stating the probable cause was that the pilot in command was unable to initiate recovery action after an unusual high nose attitude following a touch-and-go landing, leading to a stall. This finding relied heavily on a statement from Mr. E. Bell, who claimed to have witnessed the accident.
Re-investigation
In 2007, the Minister of Transport appointed a new Accident Investigation Board, chaired by Mr. G.D. van der Veer, to re-examine the accident based on new evidence submitted by Mr. W.E. Jones, father of the pilot in command. The board reviewed all documentation, interviewed witnesses, and conducted two site inspections.
During the re-investigation, it emerged that Mr. Bell had later recanted his statement, admitting he did not witness the accident and was inside the clubhouse at the time. A sworn statement from Mr. I. Bantam corroborated this. Additionally, Mr. J. Raper, a passenger in a helicopter at the time of the accident, was not interviewed by the original investigator, Mr. L. Visser. Mr. Visser acknowledged to the board that the initial investigation was unsatisfactory, with mistakes made, and that more witnesses should have been approached.
Findings
The board did not issue a new probable cause but documented the shortcomings of the original investigation and the new evidence. The final report was submitted to the Minister of Transport for action.