Investigation Summary
The aircraft was being prepared for a ferry flight to the Aviodrome museum in the Netherlands. During the accident flight, which was a test and scenic flight, the crew noticed a manifold pressure fluctuation at 50 knots but chose to continue the takeoff. Shortly after rotation, the left engine caught fire. GoPro footage from the cockpit revealed significant CRM failures: a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer (LAME) was operating the engine controls instead of the pilots, and the crew was confused about which engine was on fire despite clear visual evidence. The crew never shut down the burning engine or feathered the propeller, which increased drag and allowed the fire to burn through the wing's rear spar and aileron control cables. The investigation also highlighted that both Australian pilots were not properly licensed or rated to operate the South African-registered Convair 340, and the aircraft had received substandard maintenance that failed to detect pre-existing engine cylinder damage.
Final Conclusions
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) released its final report on 28 August 2019. The probable cause was determined to be the crew's failure to secure the left engine after it caught fire during takeoff, as prescribed in the Aircraft Flight Manual. Contributing factors included substandard maintenance that failed to detect pre-existing damage to cylinders No. 13 and No. 7, a misdiagnosis of manifold pressure defects prior to the flight, the crew's failure to abort the takeoff at 50 knots, and a total lack of Crew Resource Management (CRM).
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
The Convair 340 Crash in Pretoria (Wonderboom) — A detailed look at the 2018 Pretoria Convair 340 crash, including the cockpit GoPro footage and the series of maintenance and pilot errors that led to the disaster.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Australian ATPL; South African validation limited to PPL VFR single-engine only.
First Officer
Australian Private Licence; South African validation limited to single-engine aircraft.
Systems & Failure Modes
Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB16 Engines
The left engine suffered a failure involving cylinder No. 13 piston damage and a fractured exhaust valve in cylinder No. 7, leading to an uncontained fire.
Engine Fire Extinguishing System
The aircraft was equipped with a fire suppression system, but the crew failed to activate it during the duration of the flight.
Aileron Control System
The intense heat from the engine fire compromised the left aileron system, resulting in the pilots reporting a loss of aileron control before the crash.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was originally a 1954 USAF C-131D Samaritan.
- 02The flight was a test flight prior to a planned ferry flight to the Netherlands scheduled for July 12.
- 03GoPro footage showed the pilots were unsure if the landing gear had been retracted during the emergency.
- 04The fire extinguishing system for the left engine was never activated by the crew.
- 05The pilots were Australian A380 captains but lacked the specific South African ratings for the Convair 340.
- 06The two fatalities were the Flight Engineer, who died at the scene, and the Captain, who died in January 2020 from his injuries.
- 07No ground fatalities occurred, although two people on the ground sustained serious injuries when the aircraft struck the factory.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Maintenance Compliance
The report emphasized the necessity for maintenance organizations to strictly adhere to Civil Aviation Regulations, specifically regarding compression tests and engine defect diagnosis.
Crew Qualification Oversight
The investigation highlighted the need for stricter verification of pilot ratings and validations when operating vintage aircraft under foreign licenses.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Pilot Group Dispute
Reference ↗The group representing Qantas pilots defended the two Australian pilots following the release of the final report which heavily criticized their actions and licensing status.
Location
ACCIDENT SITE · Coordinates taken from the official investigation report.