The aircraft collided with Eskom power lines and crashed during a low level flight, the aircraft was extensively damaged and the pilot sustained serious head and spinal injuries, Kew died approximately six months after his accident in hospital.
The accident happened on February 2, 2013 when Kew was on his way back to Witbank Airfield after flying over the Witbank Dam area. The right hand wing struck the power line, separating from the aircraft, and the pilot lost control of the aircraft and impacted with the ground.
Kew was found to be medically unfit due to a medical condition on April 23, 2001 by a Designated Aviation Medical Examiner (DAME). The pilot re-applied for a Class 2 medical and on December 15, 2003 it was successful.
However Kew was prescribed medication that was not compatible with flying. The investigation was unable to establish if Kew used any medication prior to the accident.
Kew did not disclose the use of the medication to his DAME.
In September 2011, Kew was involved in a similar accident due to low altitude flying and damaged the aircraft’s right hand wing, when the aircraft struck a tree.
During the flight on the day, Kew did not wear his shoulder harness at the time of the accident.
This caused his seat belt to become dislodged from the aircraft, during the impact with the ground. This then resulted in the pilot sustaining severe head injuries when he impacted the instrument panel.
In the CAA report it is stated that the accident was considered survivable, however associated with severe trauma.
During the investigation at the crash sight, investigators found empty alcohol bottles that were recovered from the aircraft. A blood test for alcohol concentration in the blood specimen was not performed, because Kew was in a medically induced coma following the accident.
The engine was taken away to CAA were tests were conducted and there was no technical or mechanical problem with the aircraft.
Kew’s logbook could not be obtained after the accident. The hours used in the report was an approximate and based on documented hours found in a notebook in the aircraft and the pilot’s CAA file.
The CAA have now recommended that the investigator in charge of an aircraft accident can now request a blood test within a suitable period. Alcohol metabolises within six hours, therefore it is crucial to an investigation to establish substance abuse within the above time period.
