Zone
Gauteng

Crash of a Cessna 208 Caravan I in Kei Mouth

Date & Time: Jul 23, 2011
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 208A Caravan
Operator:
Registration:
3009
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Swartkop AFB - Kei Mouth
MSN:
208-0159
YOM:
1989
Location:
Kei Mouth
Eastern Cape
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Kei Mouth Airport in the Eastern Cape Province, the single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances. While both occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The crew was completing a positioning flight from Swartkop AFB.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK at Swartkop AFB

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
6850
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
15301/26746
YOM:
1944
Location:
Swartkop AFB (Pretoria)
Gauteng
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
At liftoff, the airplane suffered an engine failure, stalled and crashed in flames. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. It was engaged in a mission on behalf of the 44th Squadron.
Probable cause:
Engine failure at takeoff.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor in Songea

Date & Time: May 9, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
44-47197
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Swartkop - Songea
MSN:
7131
Location:
Songea
Ruvuma Region
Country:
Tanzania
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing in unknown circumstances. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all four occupants were rescued.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK near Swartkop AFB

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
6845
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Swartkop - Swartkop
MSN:
26114/14669
YOM:
1944
Location:
Swartkop AFB (Pretoria)
Gauteng
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
1843
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Swartkop AFB, in the suburb of Pretoria, the crew noticed fuel streaming from the port fuel tank. The aircraft caught fire, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing in an open field. The aircraft came to rest in flames and while all four crew members escaped uninjured, the aircraft was partially destroyed by fire (center section, port engine, port fuselage and port elevator).
Crew:
Cpt W. L. Chiazzari,
Cpl F. O. Burger,
Cpl J. L. du Toit,
Cpl P. Harrall.
Source: http://www.dc-3.co.za
Probable cause:
The camouflage paint on the wings of the Dakota did not easily reveal the position of the fuel filler caps and the fact that the port filler cap was not locked tightly in place was not noticed during the preflight. After takeoff from Swartkop Airbase, the hot exhaust gases ignited the fumes and the airplane caught fire in flight, requiring an emergency landing.
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