Cessna 182 accident near Mpumalanga Province, Za, August 27, 2016
On August 27, 2016 at about 10:25 am local time, a Cessna 182, registered ZSPHB, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Mpumalanga Province (Komati Gorge Lodge airport). It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 3 people were killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 2016 · about 10:25 am local time
- Place
- Mpumalanga Province, South Africa · Komati Gorge Lodge · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 Q · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- ZSPHB · no longer on the register · serial 182-67714
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 27, 2016, about 1025 coordinated universal time, a Cessna 182Q, South African registration ZS-PHB, was destroyed when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from Komati Gorge Lodge private airstrip, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was being operated under the pertinent civil regulations of the government of South Africa. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight. The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) is investigating the accident. As the State of Manufacture and Design of the engine, the NTSB has appointed a US Accredited Representative under the provisions of ICAO Annex 13 to assist the AIID in its investigation. All inquiries concerning this accident should be directed to: Civil Aviation Authority Accidents and Incidents Investigation Division Private Bag X 73 Halfway House 1685 South Africa Tel.: +27 (0) 11 545-1055/1050 +27 (0) 60 991-9915 (24 hours) Email: Aiidinbox@caa.co.za Fax: +27 (0) 11 545 1466 Website: https://www.caa.co.za/Pages/Accicdents%20andIncidents/How-to-report-accident.aspx
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PRIV Mpumalanga Prov
- Destination: PRIV Mpumalanga Province
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.