What happened
On the morning of 15 October 2024, a Magni Gyro M-24 Orion, registered ZU-RGR, departed Nelspruit Airport (FANS) for a private flight bound for Musina Aerodrome (FAMH). The flight was conducted under Part 94 regulations. Shortly after departure, the aircraft's path took it toward White River, but the pilot failed to arrive at the destination as scheduled.
Concern arose later that afternoon when a family member was unable to reach the pilot via mobile phone. After confirming that the aircraft had not landed at the intended destination, the family member alerted the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) the following day, providing a GPS location captured during the last successful contact at 0730Z on 15 October.
A large-scale search and rescue operation commenced on 17 October, involving the South African Police Service (SAPS) Airwing, drone units, and volunteer rescue teams. During the search, a SAPS drone located the wreckage near the summit of Hanglip Mountain in Louis Trichardt. The aircraft had been destroyed by the force of the impact and a subsequent fuel-fed fire. The pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation — what SACAA AIID examined and established
Investigators examined the wreckage and the surrounding environment to reconstruct the flight's final moments. Evidence from the site showed that the aircraft's main rotor blade had struck a tree branch at a height of approximately 3 metres, with the damage indicating the engine was still producing significant power at the moment of contact.
Local witnesses reported seeing a small aircraft maneuvering near the mountain before the engine sound ceased. While no impact sound was noted by bystanders, smoke was observed near the mountain peak throughout the day. The investigation also noted that the aircraft was not equipped with an emergency locator transmitter (ELT).
Findings
- The aircraft was flying at an altitude approximately 870ft below the highest peak of Hanglyip Mountain, which violated minimum height regulations.
- Visibility was restricted due to fog at the time of departure, which constituted a contravention of regulations regarding takeoff under visual flight rules (VFR).
- The pilot was flying under VFR, which is the only certified operation for this aircraft type during the day.
- The impact and subsequent fire caused the total destruction of the aircraft and resulted in the death of the pilot.