What happened
On the afternoon of 4 February 2025, a flight instructor and a pilot trainee were conducting a navigational training flight from Wonderboom Aerodrome (FAWB). The flight plan involved traveling to Brits Aerodrome and Pilanesberg Aerodrome before returning to the departure point. The flight was being conducted under visual meteorological conditions as part of a Part 141 training operation.
After departing from Runway 29, the crew reached an altitude of 300 feet and completed their post-takeoff checklists. However, upon climbing to approximately 500 feet, the engine experienced a sudden loss of power, with engine revolutions dropping sharply from 2700 rpm to 1000 rpm. The pilot attempted to engage the electrical fuel pump, but the engine performance did not recover.
As the aircraft began to lose altitude, the flight instructor took control of the aircraft. Despite attempts to troubleshoot the engine using various power settings, the engine only surged briefly before failing again. To avoid a more serious incident, the instructor executed a forced landing in a densely vegetated area in Onderstepoort, Pretoria. While the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller blade and the left wing, the crew escaped without injury.
The investigation
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) initiated an investigation into the occurrence. The inquiry examined the aircraft, a Piper PA28-180 with registration ZS-MKY, and confirmed that the aircraft was airworthy at the time of dispatch. Records indicated that the aircraft had undergone an annual inspection less than 10 hours prior to the accident.
The investigation also reviewed the qualifications of the crew, noting that the flight instructor held a valid Commercial Pilot Licence and a Class 1 medical certificate. The investigation confirmed that the training operation was being conducted by an approved training organisation and that the weather conditions at the time of the accident were clear and had no bearing on the event.