Pilots should report freely

Following the investigations into two crash landings executed during emergencies by pilots of Scenic Air last year, it has been recommended that all pilots should be able to report incidences without any fear of victimisation so as not to delay investigations.

The Directorate of Aircraft Accident Investigations said that aircraft operators should encourage pilots to keep a voluntary reporting system culture that is non-punitive and to report all incidents and accidents that happen during flights without victimising the pilots.

Pilots are often hesitant to report technical errors or incidences as management can regard these individuals as troublesome and incurring costs for aircraft operators.

Two accident reports were released this week regarding the emergency landings executed by Scenic Air Pilots on charter flights last year.

In the first report it was found that the South African pilot who crash landed a small aircraft in an open field in Pioniers Park last year experienced a loss of engine power and did not have adequate experience on the aircraft type.

The Cessna 210 crashed west of the Pioniers Park Cemetery on 15 October last year.

According to the report, the Cessna 210 with registration V5-JAG was en route from Eros Airport to Hosea Kutako International Airport to collect four passengers who were destined for Desert Lodge at Sossusvlei.

Loss of engine power occurred due to an improper mixture setting.

The pilot, Wesley Thomas, who was injured in the accident, was on a visa, working for Scenic Air.

“Immediately after take-off the pilot reported loss of engine power and crash landed west of the cemetery.”

The flight lasted only one minute from take-off to where the accident occurred.

According to the report the pilot completed all the checks as required and no abnormalities were detected. After take-off the pilot stated that the engine sounded abnormal and he noticed the fuel flow dropping.

He also called the Eros control tower to request joining downwind in order to return to the field and called “May Day” about three times before executing a forced landing.

The report pointed out that another pilot who was supposed to fly the same aircraft at around 09:00 on the same day realised that the aircraft's constant speed unit was out of function and the duty engineer was called in to rectify the defect.

In another accident that occurred on the 5 August last year, a Cessna 210L with the registration V5-Jet made an emergency landing in the Skeleton Coast Park northeast of Henties Bay.

According to the accident report the emergency landing was made while on a repositioning flight from Dora Nawas to Swakopmund. The 40-year-old female pilot was the sole occupant and was not injured in the accident.

Before executing the landing the pilot stated she heard a massive bang that was followed by a propeller stoppage while the engine was under power.

The report says the pilot did not disclose where the aircraft initially impacted the ground and evidence indicated that the first impact occurred without the landing gear extended.

The investigation also revealed that the damage to the aircraft was as a result from high-impact forces.

The pilot is said to have lost situational awareness that resulted in an unintentional controlled flight into terrain.

Contributing factors of the accident were also inadequate monitoring of safe height above the terrain, disregard for standard and safe regulatory operating procedures, and an error in judgement with relation to the ground or obstacle clearance.



ELLANIE SMIT