Mid-air collision Accident Air Tractor AT-502A ZS-XPC,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 349445
 
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Date:Friday 29 December 2023
Time:09:08 UTC
Type:Silhouette image of generic AT5T model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Air Tractor AT-502A
Owner/operator:
Registration: ZS-XPC
MSN: 502A-3241
Year of manufacture:2020
Total airframe hrs:1863 hours
Engine model:Pratt & Whitney PT6A-140AG
Fatalities:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:2
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Category:Accident
Location:near Carletonville, Gauteng -   South Africa
Phase: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:Agricultural
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency: CAA S.A.
Confidence Rating: Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities
Narrative:
An Air Tractor AT-502A (ZS-XPC) and a Cessna T182T Skylane TC (ZS-STD?) experienced a mid air collision near Carletonville, Gauteng.
The pilot of the Air Tractor and the two occupants of the Cessna died and both aircraft were destroyed.

The ZS-XPC was engaged in crop-spraying a maize field and ZS-STD was engaged in a private flight. According to available information, the pilot on board ZS-STD was assessing the condition of the maize crops. After the assessment, he advised the crop-dusting teams, which includes two crop-dusting aircraft (ZS-XPC and ZS-CHB) of the fields that need to be sprayed and what type of aerial applicators to use.

The pilot of ZS-XPC was operating from a gravel runway on a farm located 6 nautical miles (nm) or 11 kilometres (km) to the west of the maize field which was being sprayed at the time of the accident. The people staying in the area were familiar with the crop-spraying aircraft flying in the area, especially during the maize planting season and in the summer months. An eyewitness reported that ZS-XPC was spraying a maize field, and ZS-STD was surveying the farm at a higher height than that of ZS-XPC which was spraying the maize field at the time. A while later, the witness observed the two aircraft flying next to each other; shortly thereafter, ZS-STD turned and collided with ZS-XPC. Both pilots lost control of their aircraft and they crashed on a neighbouring farm.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: CAA S.A.
Report number: CA18/2/3/10407
Status: Preliminary report
Duration:
Download report: Preliminary report

Sources:

https://www.citizen.co.za/potchefstroom-herald/news/2023/12/29/mielieboer-en-vrou-sterf-in-fratsongeluk-met-spuitvliegtuig/

https://maroelamedia.co.za/nuus/sa-nuus/drie-dood-na-vliegtuie-in-lug-bo-carletonville-bots/
https://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=262424
FlyAfrica

History of this aircraft

Other occurrences involving this aircraft
8 January 2022 ZS-XPC 0 Elandsfontein unk
Collision with person.

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
29-Dec-2023 13:09 Captain Adam Added
29-Dec-2023 14:27 harro Updated [Aircraft type, Location, Narrative]
29-Dec-2023 15:21 RobertMB Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Location, Phase, Nature, Source, Narrative]
29-Dec-2023 15:24 harro Updated [Nature, Narrative]
29-Dec-2023 15:36 RobertMB Updated [Time, Country, Source, Narrative, Category]
29-Dec-2023 15:38 harro Updated [Country, Source, Narrative]
06-Feb-2024 20:44 ASN Updated [Time, Narrative, Category, Accident report]
06-Feb-2024 20:46 ASN Updated [[Time, Narrative, Category, Accident report]]

Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description

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