South Africa | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

En route to Stamford Hill Airport in Durban, the pilot encountered low clouds when the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Platberg (2,394 metres high) located east of Harrismith. Both occupants were killed. among them Brigadier Harold Griffin Eady of the Royal Air Force.
Crew:
Lt Alexander Thompson, pilot.
Passenger:
Br Harold Griffin Eady.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-08 LodeStar in Cape Town

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

ZS-ATH

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

2054

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane named 'President Burgers' was on delivery when it crashed in unknown circumstances upon landing at Cape Town-Wingfield Airport. All three crew members were uninjured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-08 LodeStar near Elands Bay: 10 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

ZS-AST

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Walvis Bay – Cape Town

MSN:

2034

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

On a flight from Walvis Bay to Cape Town, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. While flying in limited visibility, the twin engine airplane flew into high ground near Elands Bay and was destroyed. All 10 occupants were killed, among them three civilians.
Crew:
Cpt Fred W. Le Roux, pilot,
Lt J. P. Meyer, copilot,
Sgt John W. Shelly, flight engineer,
Sgt Andries P. Van Wyk, radio operator.
Passengers:
Adm Guy W. Hallifax,
Col Harold E. Cilliers,
Lt Col Gordon P. Shearer,
C. P. McMichael,
Morris Kaplan,
Alexandre Kendierski.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Avro 594 Avian II in Aasvoelkop

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Avro 594 Avian

Operator:

Eric Stanbridge

Registration:

ZS-AAC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cape Town - Cape Town

MSN:

122

YOM:

1928

Location:

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Circumstances:

The pilot was completing a solo sortie from Cape Town. While approaching the Piketberg area, weather conditions worsened and the airplane crashed in hilly terrain in Aasvoelkop. The pilot was uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Junkers F.13he in South Africa

Date & Time: May 17, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Junkers F.13

Operator:

Registration:

258

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

MSN:

2055

YOM:

1931

Location:

Country:

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Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in South Africa. The single engine aircraft was named 'Cutty Sark'.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth in Carolina: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1940

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth

Operator:

Registration:

ZS-AEP

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Lourenço Marques – Germiston

MSN:

7020

YOM:

1934

Location:

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En route from Lourenço Marques to Germiston, the single engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Carolina. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth off East London: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1938

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth

Operator:

R. H. Manning

Registration:

ZS-ACX

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Cape Town - Cape Town

MSN:

2208

YOM:

1931

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The pilot and his passengers were performing a local flight over the sea off East London. While flying around the hospital ship named 'Gloucester Castle', the single engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea. The pilot was rescued and both passengers were killed.
Crew:
R. A. K. Pohl, pilot.
Passengers:
Jack Dewar, †
G. J. LeGrange. †

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

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1937

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

SAAF Aero Club

Registration:

ZS-AAL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Pretoria - Pretoria

MSN:

502

YOM:

1928

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The crew was performing a training flight from Roberts Heights Airport in Pretoria when the single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Muldersdrift, Gauteng. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were injured.

Crash of a Junkers W.34fi in George: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1937

Type of aircraft:

Junkers W.34

Operator:

Registration:

ZS-AEC

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

2736

YOM:

1933

Location:

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Region:

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Shortly after takeoff from George Airport, the airplane named 'Sir George Grey' went out of control and crashed. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3msa1 in Johannesburg: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1937

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

ZS-AKY

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Johannesburg – Port Elizabeth

MSN:

5351

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, the engine n°1 & 3 failed. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing when, after touchdown, the airplane veered off runway and came to rest, bursting into flames. All occupants were evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. A female passenger died few days later from injuries sustained.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure after liftoff.