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| Date: | Tuesday 4 February 2025 |
| Time: | 13:00 UTC |
| Type: |  Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee |
| Owner/operator: | Thompson Aviation |
| Registration: | ZS-MKY |
| MSN: | 28-1171 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1964 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 7487 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-360-A3A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Onderstepoort, Pretoria -
 South Africa
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | Pretoria-Wonderboom Airport (PRY/FAWB) |
| Pretoria-Wonderboom Airport (PRY/FAWB) | |
| Investigating agency: | CAA S.A. |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
A flight instructor (FI) and a pilot on-board a Piper PA-28-180 aircraft with registration ZS-MKY took off on a planned navigational training flight from Wonderboom Aerodrome (FAWB) to Brits Aerodrome (FABS) and Pilanesberg Aerodrome (FAPN), before returning to FAWB. The engine was started at 1230Z after which run-up checks were completed. The aircraft took off from Runway 29 at 1258Z. Shortly after take-off, approximately 500ft above ground level (AGL), the engine suddenly lost power which reduced from 2700 revolutions per minute to idle speed. The FI took control of the aircraft and troubleshot the anomaly during which the engine briefly regained power but later stopped. Unable to maintain altitude, the FI conducted a forced landing near Onderstepoort, Pretoria. The aircraft sustained damage to the left wing and propeller. No person was injured during the accident.
Post-accident examination of the aircraft, including detailed testing and inspection of the engine and its associated systems, did not reveal any mechanical defects, system failure or operational anomaly that could explain the loss of engine power in-flight. The engine components, fuel system, ignition system and controllinkages were found intact and functional.
Probable Cause
The engine lost power during the climb phase and the reasons were undetermined. This necessitated a forced landing on an unsuitable terrain.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
CAASA
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 28 October 2023 | ZS-MKY | 0 | near Warmbaths Airport (FAWA) | |
sub |
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 18-Sep-2025 07:31 | ASN | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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