History of Flight
On Wednesday, 21 June 2023, at 1409Z, a pilot departed Nelspruit Airport (FANS) in Mpumalanga province aboard an Air Tractor AT-802A, registration ZS-TFH, on a firefighting mission. The aircraft carried 3000 litres of water and was bound for Nooitgedacht Plantation near Ngodwana. The flight was conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) in visual meteorological conditions (VMC) during daylight hours, in accordance with Part 137 of the Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR) 2011.
The aircraft was part of a multi-aircraft response that also included an AT-802 spotter, a Thrush, a Huey, and a Black Hawk, all tasked with extinguishing a runaway fire on property owned by the South African Pulp and Paper Industries (SAPPI). After reaching the fire scene, ZS-TFH released its first water load on the left side of the fire. It then proceeded to Elandshoogte Airfield Runway 27 to refill the hopper with a second load of water. The pilot took off again from Elandshoogte at 1431Z to drop the second load on the right side of the fire. Immediately after releasing the second water load, the aircraft crashed.
Video footage recorded by the spotter aircraft showed ZS-TFH releasing its second water load at 1436Z. Approximately three seconds later, the aircraft impacted the ground hard and burst into flames as it catapulted forward for about 250 metres before coming to rest in an inverted orientation facing north. Other aircraft participating in the firefighting mission then released their water loads onto the wreckage to extinguish the fire.
Injuries to Persons
The pilot sustained fatal injuries.
Damage to Aircraft
The aircraft was destroyed by the post-impact fire.
Other Details
The accident site was located on rising terrain at Nooitgedacht Plantation. The investigation is being led by the Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) of the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA). Notifications were sent to the State of Registry and the State of Design and Manufacturer. This preliminary report contains information gathered during the ongoing investigation and may be updated in a later interim or final report.