What happened
On the morning of 5 June 2025, a Cessna T210N, registration ZS-MZJ, was preparing for a private international flight from Lanseria International Airport (FALA) to Windhoek, Namibia. Prior to departure, the aircraft was refueled with 470 litres of fuel, a portion of which was loaded into a bladder-type ferry tank.
During the takeoff roll on Runway 07, an eyewitness noted that the aircraft required a longer-than-usual distance to accelerate. While Air Traffic Control queried the status of the flight, the pilot reported that operations were normal but subsequently requested to return to the airport for landing. Shortly after, the aircraft crashed in the Lion and Safari Park Nature Reserve, approximately 5.78 nautical miles from the end of Runway 25. The impact was followed by a severe fire that consumed much of the wreckage. The pilot was fatally injured, while a passenger sustained serious burn injuries and was airlifted to a hospital.
The investigation
An investigation by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) AIID examined the wreckage and the aircraft's maintenance history. Investigators recovered the engine for a teardown inspection, which revealed no internal mechanical failures that could have caused a malfunction. The aircraft had recently undergone a 100-hour periodic inspection in May 2025.
Investigators also noted that the aircraft was equipped with a bladder ferry tank, though the specific installation records for this tank were not documented. The investigation into the circumstances of the crash is ongoing.