The Accident and Incident Investigation Division (AIID) is a division within the
South African Civil Aviation Authority. The mandate of the division is to
investigate aircraft accidents and serious incidents in line with the Civil
Aviation Regulations Part 12, and according to the International Civil
Aviation Organisation (ICAO) document Annex 13, and supporting
documents.
The aim of an investigation is to establish the probable cause of an accident
/ serious incident, and to issue safety recommendation(s) to prevent the
recurrence of such an accident / serious incident.
The aim of this quarterly newsletter is to inform the public regarding
investigations that were reported for the first quarter of 2013 (January –
March 2013). This report therefore contains aircraft accident and serious
incident statistics in which the public might be interested.
We will furthermore report on any other interesting activities that took place
in the division.
It is hoped that the reader will get a general overview of the aircraft
accidents and serious incidents that have taken place and the reported
causes of such occurrences. It must be noted that most of these
investigations are still ongoing. Once concluded, the final reports will be
published on the CAA website as a public document. It should be noted
that not all reported occurrences result in long reports. Some are being
captured for statistical reasons, as there are no safety benefits in conducting
a comprehensive investigation and writing a long report on some accidents.
General Overview
Accidents Quarterly Statistics
JANUARY – MARCH 2013
Compiled by Ms Bongi Mtlokwa
Senior Researcher
Accident and Incident
Investigation Division
T: 011 545 1238
E-mail: [email protected]
PAGE 2 ACCIDENTS QUARTERLY STATISTICS
A total of 37 accidents were reported during the period 1 January to 31
March 2013. Thirty-four of these accidents occurred in South Africa, while
three involved South African-registered aircraft that occurred outside the
borders of South Africa (two in Mozambique and one in Namibia). For the
same period in 2012, 27 accidents were reported. This means that we have
recorded 10 more accidents in 2013, in comparison to the same period last
year. A total of 15 accidents were reported in January, 12 in February and
10 in March 2013.
Aircraft Accidents
A total of five fatal accidents were reported for the first three months of 2013
with eight fatalities. Three fatal accidents with five fatalities occurred in
January. The first fatal accident of the year occurred near Phalaborwa
airport, where it was reported that the engine had failed after take-off. The
aircraft crashed and was consumed by post-impact fire, and we lost two
occupants. The second accident involved a micro-light aircraft. An engine
sputter, followed by a loud bang was reported. The aircraft was also
consumed by post-impact fire. A paraglider crashed due to reported strong
cross-winds and vortex, resulting in a subsequent loss of control and the
paraglider crashed in a residential area. A second paraglider accident was
reported in February. It occurred in Burgersdorp in the Eastern Cape. This
accident was also due to strong winds, which resulted in loss of control and
the subsequent crash. Another fatal accident involving an aircraft
registered in South Africa occurred in Namibia. The aircraft was reported
missing and was found several days later. The two occupants on board were
fatally injured. Namibia as the State of Occurrence will be investigating the
accident with assistance from the AIID.
Fatal Accidents
Wreckage of ZU-EFH –
Fatal Accident
A total of 37 Accidents
were reported between
January – March 2013.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2011 2 4 4 5 6 10 11 12 12 12 14 16
2012 1 3 5 9 12 13 15 17 18 18 19 19
2013 3 4 5
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Tota
ls
Fatal Accidents Accumulative
Graph indicating accumulative fatal
accidents for the past three years. The
number of fatal accidents is exactly the
same in 2013 as it was in 2012 for the
same period.
PAGE 3 ACCIDENTS QUARTERLY STATISTICS
Aircraft Accidents
The monthly reported accumulative graph indicates the total reported
accidents from 1 January to 31 March 2013. In comparison, there were 37
reported accidents for 2013 against the 27 reported accidents for 2012.
We thought it would be useful to include an extract from the ICAO Annex
13 document. This is a definition of an accident. We have observed some
confusion with regard to the exact definition of an accident.
Accident: An occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft
which, in the case of a manned aircraft, takes place between the time
any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight until such time as
all such persons have disembarked, or in the case of an unmanned
aircraft, takes place between the time the aircraft is ready to move with
the purpose of flight until such time as it comes to rest at the end of the
flight and the primary propulsion system is shut down, in which:
a) a person is fatally or seriously injured as a result of:
— being in the aircraft, or
— direct contact with any part of the aircraft, including parts which have
become detached from the aircraft, or
— direct exposure to jet blast,
except when the injuries are from natural causes, self-inflicted or inflicted
by other persons, or when the injuries are to stowaways hiding outside the
areas normally available to the passengers and crew; or
b) the aircraft sustains damage or structural failure which:
— adversely affects the structural strength, or performance or flight
characteristics of the aircraft, and
— would normally require major repair or replacement of the affected
component, except for engine failure or damage, when the damage is
limited to a single engine, (including its cowlings or accessories), to
propellers, wing tips, antennas, probes, vanes, tires, brakes, wheels, fairings,
panels, landing gear doors, windscreens, the aircraft skin (such as small
dents or puncture holes), or for minor damages to main rotor blades, tail
rotor blades, landing gear, and those resulting from hail or bird strikes
(including holes in the radome); or
c) the aircraft is missing or is completely inaccessible.
The graph indicates monthly
reported accidents. January
recorded the highest accidents
so far.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Total 2011 5 19 31 43 49 57 67 77 87 93 103 111
Total 2012 9 20 27 41 52 57 68 81 89 105 115 123
Total 2013 15 27 37
-10
10
30
50
70
90
110
130
150
To
tals
Accidents
2013 has the highest reported
accidents so far.
PAGE 4 ACCIDENTS QUARTERLY STATISTICS
It must further be noted that all accidents/incidents/serious incidents must be reported to the accident investigation
division. However, not all reported accidents/incidents/serious incidents warrant full investigation. All received occurrences
are reviewed and categorised according to the severity of the occurrence. Occurrences are classified into 6 categories.
These categories are indicated below:
CATEGORY CIRCUMSTANCES
1 Accidents and incidents are those where the facts indicate a significant threat to the safety of the
general/travelling public or where they are the subject of widespread public interest. The
investigation will be conducted by a team involving specialist groups, and will include the collection
and analysis of all relevant facts, the issuing of safety recommendations and the production of an
ICAO-style report, normally within about 12 months from the date of occurrence.
2 Accidents and incidents are those where the facts indicate a concern for the safety of the
general/travelling public. Category 2 investigation requirements and reports are similar to those for
Category 1 investigations. The investigation will be conducted by a team involving specialist groups,
and will include the collection and analysis of all relevant facts, the issuing of safety
recommendations, and the production of an ICAO-style report, normally within about 12 months
from the date of occurrence.
3
Accidents and incidents are those where the facts indicate actual or potential serious safety
deficiencies. The category is used when there is some concern for public safety and a need for an
in-depth investigation to determine the facts. The investigation may be conducted by a team
involving specialist groups, and will include the collection and analysis of all relevant facts, the
issuing of safety recommendations, and the production of an ICAO-style report, normally within
about 6 - 12 months from the date of occurrence.
4 Accidents and incidents are those where the facts do not indicate a serious safety deficiency. The
category is used for accidents and incidents where the circumstances were sufficiently complex to
require detailed information from the pilot, operator and/or other involved parties. The accident
and incident reports may include Safety Recommendations where appropriate. The investigation
may be conducted by one or two investigators, and will include the collection and analysis of all
relevant facts, the issuing of safety recommendations if applicable, and the production of an ICAO-
style report, normally within about 6 months from the date of occurrence.
5 Accidents and incidents are incidents where some investigation actions are needed to expand on
and/or substantiate the initially reported facts. Investigations associated with this category
specifically aim to identify whether safety enhancement action is appropriate for accidents and
incidents. Category 5 reports may contain Safety Recommendations where appropriate. The report
will be available on request. The investigation may be a desk-top investigation conducted by an
investigator, and will include the collection and analysis of all relevant facts, and may include safety
recommendations and the production of an ECCAIRS-style report, normally within about 2 months
from the date of occurrence.
6 Accidents and incidents are occurrences which are primarily of statistical interest and are not
investigated. The initially reported information is recorded on the database ECCAIRS. Further
information may be available on request.
Decision to Investigate
PAGE 5 ACCIDENTS QUARTERLY STATISTICS
We wish to reiterate that all occurrences must be reported to AIID as per
the Civil Aviation regulations. AIID does not investigate to apportion blame
or liability, but to improve aviation safety. It is therefore important that
occurrences are reported so that data can be collected and safety
deficiencies can be identified and addressed accordingly, in partnership
with the regulator and the industry.
The 37 received occurrences were categorized as follows:
All accidents must be reported
as per Civil Aviation
Regulations.
All reported accidents receive
attention.
Approved and released Accident Reports
The Advisory Safety Panel had three meetings between January and
March 2013. The panel consists of experts from the industry and their
mandate is to assist the AIID and the Director of Civil Aviation in producing
good quality reports; allocate the probable causes of accidents and
enhance safety recommendations to improve safety. We had a good start
and a total of 16 reports were reviewed and approved. These reports were
subsequently released by the Director and they are available on the CAA
website for the public. These finalised reports will further be used for safety
research and data analysis. Safety research and data analysis reports will
be released during the course of the year. A total of five significant
recommendations were produced from the reviewed accidents and were
forwarded to the regulator for action and implementation.
PAGE 6 ACCIDENTS QUARTERLY STATISTICS
Some Reported Accidents
The aircraft was reported to
have entered into a spin and
subsequently crashed near
Panorama Airfield.
This is the wreckage of a
Bantam B22J. The accident
occurred in Mpumalanga. The
aircraft flew into a valley, was
unable to clear obstacles and
collided with trees.
PAGE 7 ACCIDENTS QUARTERLY STATISTICS
Other Statistics
Accident Risk Exposure
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2011 3 9 2 3 6 5 5 7 3 4 8 9
2012 5 11 7 7 15 4 4 4 7 2 8 1
2013 0 6 6
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Serious Incidents 2013
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Fatal Accidents 3 1 1
Fatalities 5 1 2
Serious Injuries 6 1 12
Persons on board 22 16 24
22 16
24
6
1
12 5
1
2 3
1
1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
2013 Pax, Injuries, Fatalities & Fatal Accidents
A total of 12 serious incidents
were reported between 1
January and 31 March 2013.
These will also be investigated
and reports will be published in
accordance with internal
processes.
This graph indicates the number
of people exposed to
accidents in the past three
months. A total of 62 people
were exposed in the 37
accidents. Five of these
accidents were fatal, in which
eight people perished. It further
indicates a total of 19 serious
injuries as a result of being
involved in an aircraft
accident.
PAGE 8 ACCIDENTS QUARTERLY STATISTICS
NTCA and TCA Accidents
Civil Aviation Register January to March 2013
2011 2012 2013
TOTL NTCA 15 17 17
TOTL TCA 27 10 20
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
TCA and NTCA Reported 3-Year Comparison
9
1
3
1
3
5
3
1
8
3
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
GP NW LIMP FS EC WC MP NC KZN O/B
Provincial January to March 2013
PAGE 9 ACCIDENTS QUARTERLY STATISTICS
Air Traffic Movements
Civil Aviation Register
Jan Feb Mar
Arrivals 23322 23183 25206
Departures 22977 23084 25068
21500
22000
22500
23000
23500
24000
24500
25000
25500
Air Traffic Movements January - March 2013
Aeroplanes Helicopters NTCA
2013 4729 1086 5 874
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
Civil Aviation Register January to March 2013
PAGE 10 ACCIDENTS QUARTERLY STATISTICS
Personnel Licences
Central Reporting System The Central Reporting System is a tool used by the industry to report incidents. The system was established
to support Safety Management System activities. The system has two components; the voluntary
component and the confidential component (Confidential Aviation Hazard Reporting System). Every
member of the industry and the public is welcome to use the system. Occurrences reported through the
system are categorised according to the risk matrix and the classification table above. Some
occurrences are elevated to accidents or serious incidents and receive a full investigation. The rest of
the reports are for statistical purposes, safety research and data analysis. AIID is currently looking into
airspace infringements. A full-scale research is under way and findings and recommendations will be
released in due course.
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000
Hot Air Balloon Pilot
Flight Engineers
SPLIC
Airline Transport - Helicopter
Validations
Commercial Pilot - Helicopter
Private Pilot - Helicopter
Maintainance Engineers
Student pilot
Airline Transport - Aeroplane
Commercial Pilot - Aeroplane
Cabin Crew
Personnel Licences Jan - Mar 13
PAGE 11 ACCIDENTS QUARTERLY STATISTICS
Central Reporting System Statistics
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
JAN FEB MAR
TOTAL RECEIVED INCIDENTS January - March 2013
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Total Incidents received per Aerodrome
Jan - Mar 13
Comprehensive statistics will be
released in due course.