Eclipse EA500 crash, Dec 7, 2015 (1 killed), Swellendam
Eclipse EA500 accident on December 7, 2015 near Swellendam, Western Cape, South Africa with 1 fatality. Cause: SACAA: No aircraft anomalies were found;...
- Date: December 7, 2015
- Aircraft: Eclipse EA500
- Location: Swellendam, Western Cape, South Africa
- Fatalities: 1
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: SACAA: No aircraft anomalies were found; the aircraft performed a series of unexplained erratic maneuvers resulting in loss of control and a spiral dive. Pilot incapacitation could not be determined.
An Eclipse EA500 flew alone from Lanseria towards Cape Town and climbed to FL360. After it stopped responding to air traffic control near Kimberley and drifted off course, a South African Air Force Gripen intercepted it and saw it flying erratically before it entered a spiral and struck the ground near Swellendam, killing the pilot. The SACAA report found no aircraft anomaly and could not establish whether the pilot was incapacitated.