Zone

Ground accident of a Boeing 737-2T5 at Hoedspruit AFB

Date & Time: Jan 10, 2011 at 2050 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-SGX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hoedspruit - Johannesburg
MSN:
22396/730
YOM:
1981
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
26512
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1300
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1100
Aircraft flight hours:
70094
Circumstances:
The aircraft was flown on a non-scheduled charter flight from O. R. Tambo International Airport to Hoedspruit military aerodrome, where it landed safely and all 97 passengers disembarked. The crew then prepared to return to O. R. Tambo International Airport with no passengers on board. Whilst taxiing to the cleared holding point for takeoff, the pilot switched off the landing lights to avoid blinding an approaching aircraft. As a result, he overshot the turning point in the darkness and found himself at the end of the taxiway with insufficient space to turn around. According to him, he decided to manoeuvre the aircraft out of the "dead end" by turning into the last taxiway, which led to military hangars, and then reversing the aircraft to carry out a 180° turn. This was to be done without external guidance. Whilst reversing the aircraft, the pilot failed to stop it in time, the main wheels rolled off the edge of the taxiway and the aircraft slipped down a steep embankment, coming to rest with the nose-wheel still on the taxiway. The aeroplane was substantially damaged, but no-one was injured.
Probable cause:
Inappropriate decision by the captain to reverse the aircraft at night without external guidance.
Final Report: