ACCIDENT REPORT: JIM DAVIS
A I R CR A F T AC CI DENT
R EP OR T
NOTE: THIS REPORT IS TO PROMOTE AVIATION SAFETY AND NOT TO ESTABLISH LEGAL LIABILITY. Unless stated otherwise all times are local (Bravo time) The CAA’s 30 page report contains a large amount of padding, repetition, poor English and incompetence. Here’s an example of the latter: The estimated flight time was three hours, ten minutes {(0310) (at flight level 075 feet above mean sea level) (AMSL)}. So, in the interest of clarity and readability, I have had to correct and paraphrase extensively.
50
AC CI DENT R EP OR T : Aircraft Registration: ZS-SPI Date of Accident: 09 Nov 2012 Time of Accident: 8.59 pm Type of Aircraft: Cessna 172R Pilot-in-command: a 24 year old Nigerian national with a valid PPL and night rating. Total flying: 194 hours On type: 158 hours Last Point of departure: Wonderboom (FAWB) Final place of intended landing: Wonderboom (FAWB) Accident site: On a mountain at GPS coordinates (S 24° 07 6.76 E 029° 13 7.58) at 5 940 feet AMSL. Persons on board: 1+1 Persons killed: 1+1
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION:
SYNOPSIS
Satellite image. The satellite image indicated overcast low-level cloud in the area. And the 21:00Z SIGWX chart forecast scattered lowlevel cloud base of 1,000ft, poor visibility and moderate low-level turbulence in the area of the accident. Observed weather Polokwane Airport 18:00Z METAR indicated overcast low-level cloud at 2000ft, good visibility and light north easterly winds. 1900Z & 2000Z AUTO METARs indicated that the dew-point depression decreased by a degree from 18:00Z to 2°C i.e. possible indication of 500ft to 1000ft cloud base drop close to the time of the accident.
At 7.58 pm the pilot and a passenger departed Wonderboom on a private VFR flight to build night hours. According to ATC, takeoff and climb out from Wonderboom appeared to be normal. There was no further communication between the pilot and ATC.
April 2021
The aircraft did not return to Wonderboom as planned. The flight plan was direct to Warmbaths, then direct to Nylstroom, then direct to Polokwane where he would do a touch and go, and then return to Wonderboom. The following day the aircraft was found to
