Engine failure, wrong turn killed young pilot

A REPORT on a plane crash that left a young pilot dead when his plane plunged into the Port Elizabeth Airport fence in 2015 shows that an unsuccessful forced landing due to engine failure caused his death.

Qianlong “Jerome” Zhang, 22, was killed on impact when the fourseater Piper Cherokee – on loan from 43 Air School in Port Alfred – burst into flames.

This, after he attempted to turn the plane around and land back on the runway just after take-off.

The engine failure coupled with “the pilot’s decision not to land on the remaining runway ahead and the loss of engine power” were also listed as reasons for his death.

At the time Zhang was piloting a plane from Port Elizabeth to George as part of a navigation training exercise.

According to a Civil Aviation Authority report released earlier this month, Zhang also failed to adhere to emergency procedures.

The report highlights that Zhang’s attempt to return to the airport after engine failure was an “impossible turn”.

“Pilots are trained never to turn back to the runway after an engine failure unless they have adequate altitude,” the report states.

Flight recordings used during the investigation revealed that Zhang’s last words to the air traffic controller were: “My engine is cutting off inside, requesting emergency landing on the runway.”

The aircraft was climbing at the time and it peaked at about 620m short of runway’s end.

“During the turn, the aircraft lost height rapidly and could not reach the runway. The aircraft struck the wildlife exclusion airport perimeter fence before colliding with the ground,” the report states.

“The controller activated the crash alarm at once and waited for the airport emergency services vehicles to respond.

“The controller reported that the aircraft hit the ground, and a big fireball formed. The aircraft was destroyed by the post impact fuelfed fire and the pilot was fatally injured. The accident was considered non-survivable.”

During the flight to Port Elizabeth from George earlier on the same day, Zhang had reported no issues.

After landing in Port Elizabeth, the aircraft was refueled but when Zhang attempted to start the engine, it failed twice.

On the third attempt the engine started and Zhang was cleared by the Air Traffic Control to take-off. — TMG