The Civil Aviation Authority will begin the probe into Wednesday's plane crash in which well-known Port Elizabeth pilot, Keith Patterson, was killed.
His light aircraft crashed on a game reserve in the Herbersdale area near Mossel Bay.
Patterson was reportedly en route to Cape Town to pick up a buyer for his aircraft.
Authorities said his body was found some distance from the plane wreck.
Late Wednesday the 43 Airschool at Port Alfred posted a hearfelt message of condolence to the family and friends of 51-year-old Patterson, describing him "as a dear friend, colleague and partner."
Patterson, who was flying solo at the time, was a highly experience pilot who used to fly Boeing 747's for South African Airways and and founded the Aptrac flight school in Port Elizabeth which he sold several years ago.
