Zone

Crash of a Cessna (DMI) Falcon 402 in Lanseria

Date & Time: Dec 13, 2016 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
ZU-TVB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lanseria - Bazaruto Island
MSN:
402B-1008
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Lanseria Airport Runway 07, en route to Bazaruto Island in Mozambique, the pilot encountered engine problems. He contacted ATC and was cleared for an immediate return and landing on runway 25. On short final, the single engine airplane hit the perimeter fence and crashed near the runway threshold, bursting into flames. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. Built in 1975, this Cessna 402B was equipped with a new turbo engine and redesigned as a single engine Cessna (DMI) Falcon 402 (the C402 is usually a twin engine aircraft).

Crash of an Eclipse EA500 near Swellendam: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 2015 at 1057 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
ZS-DKS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lanseria - Cape Town
MSN:
142
YOM:
2008
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2977
Captain / Total hours on type:
506.00
Aircraft flight hours:
714
Circumstances:
The aircraft had taken off on a private flight with the pilot being the sole occupant on board. The pilot had filed an IFR flight plan and had informed air traffic control (ATC) at FALA that the aircraft had a fuel endurance of 4 hours and his estimated flying time to FACT was approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. After take-off the aircraft climbed to its cruising altitude of 36 000 feet (FL360) as was seen on the radar recordings. The pilot maintained communication with ATC until overhead Kimberley. Shortly thereafter the aircraft was observed to change course, turning slightly left before the town of Douglas. The aircraft remained at FL360 and was observed to fly south towards the waypoint OKTED, which was a substantial distance to the east of FACT. FACT could not get communication with the aircraft and the aeronautical rescue co-ordination centre (ARCC) was advised of the situation. The aircraft was kept under constant radar surveillance. The ARCC requested assistance from the South African Air Force (SAAF) and a Gripen (military jet) from Air Force Base Overberg (FAOB) was dispatched to intercept the aircraft. The pilot of the Gripen intercepted the aircraft approximately 3 minutes before it impacted the terrain. The Gripen pilot was unable to get close enough to the aircraft as it was flying very erratically, and he could therefore not see whether the pilot was conscious or not. The aircraft was observed entering a left spiral and continue spiraling down until it impacted the ground. The pilot was fatally injured and the aircraft was destroyed during the impact sequence.
Probable cause:
The investigation revealed no anomalies on the part of the aircraft and all damage was attributed to the impact with the ground. The fatal injuries sustained by the pilot made it impossible to determine if the pilot was incapacitated or not. It was observed that the aircraft performed a series of unexplainable as well as erratic flying manoeuvres, which resulted in a loss of control and the aircraft to enter into a spiral dive, which was observed by the Gripen pilot before colliding with the ground.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten Norman BN-2A Islander near Chirundu

Date & Time: Jul 6, 2014 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
9Q-CYA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lanseria – Lubumbashi
MSN:
617
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Lanseria on a positioning flight to Lubumbashi where the aircraft was based. En route, the crew encountered engine problems and elected to make an emergency landing on the Lusaka - Chirundu Road. Eventually, the twin engine aircraft crashed in a cliff. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Beechcraft C90GTx King Air in Lanseria: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 2014 at 0654 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-CLT
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Johannesburg – Lanseria
MSN:
LJ-2011
YOM:
2011
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
1936
Captain / Total hours on type:
101.00
Aircraft flight hours:
500
Circumstances:
The pilot and two passengers were planning to fly from Rand Airport to Lanseria International Airport (FALA) in the early hours of the morning with the intention to clear customs. It was still dark and the weather forecast thunderstorms with rain for most areas of Gauteng. Rand Tower requested clearance from FAOR approach before departure. The aircraft took off from Runway 29 following the clearance given and proceeded in a westerly direction. At 6500 feet above mean sea level (AMSL), Rand handed the aircraft over to Approach for further clearances. Reported visibility at FALA was 600m and the cloud base was 600 feet AGL. The pilot then requested a VHF Omnidirectional range (VOR) Z approach for Runway 07. He started the approach at 8000 feet and approximately 14nm from LIV. At 12nm and established on Radial 245 Approach handed him over to FALA. Once in contact with FALA the pilot was advised of the heading to turn to at missed approach point (MAP). At MAP the pilot did not have the runway in sight and advised tower that they were going around. They turned left 360° and climbed to 8000 feet as instructed by FALA. FALA handed them back to Approach for repositioning for Radial 245. Approach advised the aircraft that visibility at Wonderboom was better but the pilot said if not successful they would route to Polokwane. At 12nm the aircraft was handed over to FALA. During the descent, the pilot started repeating messages more than twice. Close to MAP the pilot indicated that he had the field in sight. FALA gave them landing clearance. Soon after, the pilot said he did not have it in sight. When FALA instructed him to go around and route Polokwane, the pilot came back on frequency indicating that the aircraft was in distress. After that, the tower heard a loud bang accompanied by black smoke from behind a hangar.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a stall in adverse weather conditions after the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation during a missed approach procedure.
Final Report:

Crash of an Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante in Francistown: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 29, 2013 at 0700 LT
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-NVB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lanseria - Francistown - Lubumbashi
MSN:
110-479
YOM:
1988
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Lanseria to Lubumbashi with an intermediate stop at Francistown Airport to refuel, and the aircraft was carrying a load of ion exchange resins for water purification. During an early morning approach, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions, abandoned the approach and initiated a go-around procedure. During a second approach from the opposite direction, the crew informed ATC he established a visual contact with the runway when the aircraft crashed in a bushy area located some 4,6 km short of runway.

Crash of a Swearingen SA226TC Metro II in Lanseria

Date & Time: Jun 13, 2010 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-ZOC
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lanseria – Polokwane
MSN:
TC-293
YOM:
1979
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6900
Captain / Total hours on type:
400.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1630
Copilot / Total hours on type:
35
Aircraft flight hours:
27532
Aircraft flight cycles:
27353
Circumstances:
Two flight crew members accompanied by thirteen passengers departed from FALA to FAPP. The flight was uneventful until during the approach to land on Runway 05 at FAPP. The flight crew selected landing gear down and observed a red light which indicate undercarriage unsafe. The flight crew reported the situation to FAPP Air Traffic Control (ATC). FAPP ATC gave instruction to do a missed approach at low level fly-past. The intention was to conduct a visual inspection of the undercarriage to determine its condition. The ATC observed that the left main gear had not extended. FAPP ATC gave an instruction to the flight crew, to hold over the beacon (BHV), where they could attempt to extend the gear by means of normal and emergency procedure. The flight crew was not successful and undercarriage remained retracted. The flight crew returned to FALA with the intention to carry out an emergency landing. FALA ATC give instructions to the flight crew to hold over the beacon (LIV), to again attempt the normal and emergency undercarriage extension procedures. But jet again; the flight crew was unsuccessful to lower the left main gear. ATC then instructed that the aircraft should execute the emergency landing on Runway 24R. During short finals overhead the threshold, prior to touchdown, the flight crew shut down both engines, feathered the propellers and switched off all the electronics. The aircraft landed and came to a gradual stop on its lower fuselage on the centreline of the runway.
Probable cause:
The pilot executed a belly “wheels up” emergency landing after the left main landing gear failed to extend.
Contributory Factors:
The new tyres installed on the main landing gear wheels were not in compliance with the instructions of the Fairchild Service Letter 226-SN-131.
Final Report:

Ground accident of a BAe 125-400B in Lanseria

Date & Time: Feb 12, 2002 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-JBA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lanseria – Blantyre
MSN:
25259
YOM:
1971
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7881
Captain / Total hours on type:
64.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
13500
Copilot / Total hours on type:
18
Circumstances:
The aircraft was parked on the international departures apron at FALA, ready for a flight from FALA to Blantyre. The pilot assumed that the engineer had pressurised the hydraulic accumulator and therefore did not inspect it himself. When the passengers arrived, the pilot got in the aircraft and began the internal pre-start checks. The co-pilot removed the chocks after boarding the passengers, closed the door and then started to brief the passengers. At that moment the pilot noticed that the aircraft was rolling forward. Attempts to stop the aircraft were unsuccessful, the aircraft rolled forward, narrowly missed a hangar and a parked Bell Long-ranger helicopter next to the hangar, crossed the taxiway and finally stopped when entering a ditch between the taxiway and the runway. The pilot was the holder of a valid transport pilot’s licence and had the type endorsed in his licence. The operation of the hydraulic system was found to be satisfactory. The hand pump was used to pressurise the system after which the brakes could be applied successfully.
Probable cause:
The hydraulic system was not pressurised during the pre-flight inspection of the aircraft. The chocks were therefore removed without adequate hydraulic system pressure available.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft G18S in Lanseria

Date & Time: Mar 14, 2001 at 1240 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-OEP
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lanseria - Lanseria
MSN:
BA-474
YOM:
1959
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
19639
Captain / Total hours on type:
24.00
Aircraft flight hours:
671
Circumstances:
The instructor was accompanied by a trainee pilot and two passengers (also pilots) on a local training flight and was in the process of doing type conversion training when the accident happened. On the third circuit after a touch and go landing on runway 06L, the right-hand engine failed soon after take-off. The aircraft was flown at low altitude in a left-hand circuit in an attempt to land onto runway 17. During this circuit the left-hand engine also failed. The aircraft collided with, and severed, three 11kV electrical conductors and executed a forced landing with the gear retracted to the North of FALA approximately 1 km from threshold of runway 17. The pilot only sustained minor injuries with no one else injured. The initial on-site inspection revealed that both front tanks, which were selected at the fuel tank selector, were empty. The pilot who was undergoing conversion training refueled the aircraft prior to the accident and stated that 70 litres of fuel was uplifted into each "inboard auxiliary" tank and that what he presumed to be the "main" tanks were filled to capacity. The instructor stated that upon his arrival, the pilot who refueled the aircraft told him that he had filled the "mains" and that the "centre aux. tanks" were partially filled. The instructor further stated that the "main" tanks were selected for the duration of the flight. The aircraft is equipped with three fuel tanks in each wing. These tanks are: Front, Rear Auxiliary and Auxiliary tanks. Only one fuel quantity gauge is installed in the aircraft. A seven position selector knob above the fuel quantity gauge determines the tank to which the gauge is connected which then indicates the amount of fuel in that respective tank. The left and right front tanks were selected on the fuel gauge selector knob.
Probable cause:
Poor preflight inspection. Miscommunication between instructor and student pilot resulting in fuel mismanagement and depletion of the front tanks' fuel supply and subsequent engine failure. A contributory factor is that both the instructor and the student were relatively unfamiliar with the aircraft and its systems.

Crash of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III in Lanseria

Date & Time: May 4, 1998
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-JRR
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
421C-0141
YOM:
1976
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Lanseria Airport, the crew encountered technical problems and elected to abort. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest, bursting into flames. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Beechcraft 200 Super King Air near Menongue: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1995
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-MGR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Luanda – Lanseria
MSN:
BB-19
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was completing a special flight from Luanda to Lanseria on behalf of the World Food Programme. While cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an isolated area located in the region of Menongue. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all five occupants were killed. It was reported that weather was poor at the time of the accident with severe turbulences. The left aileron and a part of the left wing were never recovered and probably separated from the aircraft prior to the loss of control.