South Africa’s general aviation deaths surge despite strong aviation safety ranking

South Africa has earned international recognition for its aviation safety oversight, but a sharp increase in general aviation deaths has raised fresh concerns about the risks facing private pilots, flight schools and other operators.

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) said the country ranked seventh globally in the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s safety oversight assessment, scoring 94.99%. It also placed first in Africa.

SACAA commissioner Poppy Khoza described the result as a national achievement, but warned that the number of lives lost in general aviation accidents remained a serious concern.

General aviation fatalities increase to 24

Despite a decline in the overall number of recorded accidents, fatal incidents in general aviation increased during the 2025/26 financial year.

According to Khoza, fatal accidents rose from four to 17, while the number of people killed increased from seven to 24.

General aviation includes a range of operations outside scheduled commercial airline services, such as private flying, flight training, business aviation, aerial surveying and emergency medical operations.

“Behind these figures are lost lives, grieving families,” Khoza said.

The increase highlights the difference between the country’s strong overall safety oversight performance and the challenges experienced in specific parts of the aviation sector.

South Africa’s scheduled commercial aviation sector, meanwhile, has maintained a record of no fatal aircraft accidents for nearly 40 years, according to the report.

SACAA targets human error and operational risks

Khoza said investigations into aviation accidents continued to identify factors including flight crew or human error, mechanical and engine failures, and structural problems.

The authority is working with industry stakeholders on a general aviation safety strategy intended to reduce accidents and improve operational practices.

The measures include accident reduction seminars, risk management initiatives and safety publications designed to help pilots and operators better understand potential hazards.

Khoza said protecting lives needed to remain a priority across all areas of aviation, even when the overall number of accidents declined.

Changes planned for aircraft accident investigations

SACAA has also announced legislative developments intended to strengthen the independence of aircraft accident investigations.

Amendments to the Civil Aviation Act were gazetted on Monday. According to Khoza, the changes provide for aircraft accident investigations to be separated from SACAA.

Separating the investigative function from the aviation regulator is intended to strengthen its independence. The amendments also expand the regulator’s environmental oversight responsibilities.

Judicial inquest into fatal 2020 SACAA aircraft crash

Khoza also addressed the fatal January 2020 crash involving SACAA aircraft ZS-CAR, which killed three employees.

The authority continues to dispute aspects of the final investigation report published by Ethiopian accident investigation authorities in January 2022.

Khoza confirmed that a judicial inquest would examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The case remains a significant issue for the regulator as it pursues changes to aviation safety oversight and works to address the rise in general aviation fatalities.

South Africa’s international safety ranking reflects its performance in regulatory oversight, but the latest figures show that reducing fatal accidents in general aviation remains an urgent challenge.

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Source: The Citizen