Crash of a Junkers W.34fi in Eshowe: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Junkers W.34
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-AEB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Durban – Johannesburg
MSN:
2735
YOM:
1933
Location:
Eshowe
KwaZulu-Natal
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
En route from Durban to Johannesburg, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with poor visibility due to fog. Too low, the airplane impacted the slope of a hill and was destroyed. A passenger was critically injured and all five other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Moth in Durban

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1932
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-ABL
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1145
YOM:
1930
Location:
Durban
KwaZulu-Natal
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Both occupants were injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth in Sir Lowrey’s Pass: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1931 at 1255 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-ACD
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Durban - Cape Town
MSN:
2110
YOM:
1930
Location:
Sir Lowrey’s Pass
Western Cape
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While overflying the Hottentots Holland Mountain Range while on a flight from Durban to Cape Town, the pilot encountered stormy weather. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed, bursting into flames. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
William Frost Davenport, pilot.
Passengers:
J. Pouradier-Dutiel, a French businessman,
J. C. Young, a local farmer.
Probable cause:
The aircraft went out of control following a structural failure. A wing failed in flight due to heavy turbulences from the storm. The wing was located 229 metres from the main wreckage. It seems that atmospheric turbulences exceeded the wing's design.

Crash of an Avro 594 Avian III in Stamford Hill

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Avro 594 Avian
Operator:
C. W. Petchell
Registration:
ZS-AAR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
113
YOM:
1928
Location:
Durban
KwaZulu-Natal
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in Stamford Hill while approaching Durban. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and the pilot was injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60X Moth in Bloemfontein

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1928
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
African Aerial Travels
Registration:
G-UAAG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Durban – Bloemfontein
MSN:
442
YOM:
1927
Location:
Bloemfontein
Free State
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on final approach to Bloemfontein for unknown reason. Both occupants were injured.
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