What happened
On the morning of 15 October 2025, a Sling 2 aircraft, registration ZU-PBC, departed from Secunda Aerodrome in Mpumalanga for a planned navigational flight to Margate Aerodrome. The flight was being conducted under a private hire-and-fly arrangement. While the pilot had previously completed differences training on the aircraft type, the flight was part of a series of maneuvers intended to build experience.
During the flight, the pilot sent a video and photo to a flight instructor, suggesting that conditions were safe. However, around 1120Z, a distress call was intercepted by another pilot and relayed to air traffic control. Search and rescue teams eventually located the wreckage on a private farm in the Nottingham area of KwaZulu- $\text{Natal}$. The impact with the mountainous, bushy terrain was severe, destroying the aircraft and causing one fatality.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the flight and the pilot's credentials. The investigation established that the pilot held a valid helicopter license but was operating under an expired student pilot license for fixed-wing aircraft. While the pilot had completed a familiarization flight the previous day, the investigation noted that the training organization could not provide evidence that the pilot's eligibility for fixed-wing operations had been properly verified.
Investigators also reviewed the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. Although the flight began under visual meteorological conditions, local observations at the crash site indicated the presence of low cloud, mist, and drizzle, with visibility significantly reduced.
Findings
- The pilot was operating the aircraft with an expired Student Pilot Licence for aeroplanes.
- The training organization was unable to demonstrate that the pilot's eligibility for fixed-wing training had been verified.
- Weather conditions at the accident site were unsuitable for visual flight operations due to mist, low clouds, and drizzle.
- The aircraft impacted the terrain in a low-nose attitude, which led to the destruction of the cockpit.
Safety action
- It is recommended that the approved training organization (ATO) refine its hire-and-fly policies for pilots working toward higher licenses, specifically ensuring flight plans are validated by an instructor.
- A recommendation has been made for the Director of Civil Aviation to conduct a comprehensive audit of the ATO to ensure compliance with certification requirements, specifically regarding the verification and retention of pilot licenses and endorsements.