ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 273290
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Friday 5 April 2002 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Piper PA-28-140 |
| Owner/operator: | |
| Registration: | ZS-EBM |
| MSN: | 28-20463 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Giant’s Castle Reserve -
 South Africa
|
| Phase: | |
| Nature: | |
| Departure airport: | FAEC Estcourt |
| FAEC Estcourt | |
| Investigating agency: | CAA S.A. |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The private pilot was accompanied by a passenger on an aerial stock theft patrol flight in the Drakensberg Giant's Castle area when the accident occurred. The aircraft departed Estcourt aerodrome at 0420Z with approximately 40 U.S. Gal. of fuel on board. Approximately 40 minutes later, the aircraft was approaching a mountain range in the Giant's Castle area while flying in a Westerly direction. The aircraft had flown up the valley at an altitude of approximately 6800 ft and was in the process of turning away from the mountain to turn around and head back down the valley again when he apparently experienced a strong down draught, which caused the aircraft to descend. Due to the rising terrain in the direction of flight, the aircraft collided with terrain on the Eastern side of the mountain while in a shallow banked turn to the left. The aircraft came to rest approximately 35 m further on and was substantially damaged. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries in the accident and were airlifted to Pietermaritzburg hospital by a SANDF helicopter. PROBABLE CAUSE: It is believed that the pilot was flying towards the lee of a mountain range at a relatively low altitude with only a small margin in terms of terrain clearance height, which necessitated the pilot to turn away from the mountain in order to avoid a collision. Due to the aircraft flying into the lee of the mountain, the pilot encountered a downdraught, which caused the aircraft to descend into the rising terrain.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
S.A. CAA
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation