The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB WPR18WA281 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Zenith CH610 HD accident near Germiston, Za, May 12, 2018

On May 12, 2018 at about 7:30 am local time, a Zenith CH610 HD, registered ZUFFA, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Germiston (Rand Airport). It was flown under non-U.S. private rules. The NTSB record does not give the injuries.

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
May 12, 2018 · about 7:30 am local time
Place
Germiston, South Africa · Rand Airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
The NTSB record does not give the injuries.
Weather
not recorded
Aircraft
Zenith CH610 HD
Registration
ZUFFA · no longer on the register
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Flight · non-U.S. private rules

The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record

On May 12, 2018, about 0730 Universal Coordinated time, a Zenith Zodiac CH 610 HD airplane, ZU-FFA, touched down and overturned about 100 meters short of runway 11 at Rand Airport, Germiston, South Africa, following a loss of engine power. The pilot sustained unspecified injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged during the forced landing in a savannah. The flight was conducted under the pertinent civil regulations of the government of South Africa. The airplane was registered to another individual. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of South Africa. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Government of South Africa. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Civil Aviation Authority Accidents and Incidents Investigation Division Private Bag X 73 Halfway House 1685 South Africa Tel.: +27 0 11 545-1000 +27 0 83 461-6277 (24 hours) E-mail: mail@caa.co.za Fax: +27 0 11 545 1465 Website: http://www.caa.co.za

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

  1. Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during approach defining event

Pilot

No details recorded.

The aircraft

  • Landing gear: fixed

The flight

  • Destination: FAGM Germiston

Weather at the time

  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.