Region
Africa

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 Fokker Super Universal in Kayser's Beach

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Fokker Super Universal
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-ABR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
854
YOM:
1930
Location:
Kayser's Beach
Western Cape
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. All three crew members escaped uninjured.

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 a De Havilland DH.60G Moth in Steynsburg

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1931
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
E. Kelley-Patterson
Registration:
ZS-ABN
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
803
YOM:
1929
Location:
Steynsburg
Eastern Cape
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 unknown circumstances in Steynsburg. The pilot, sole on board, was injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth on Mt Tandjiesberg: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1931 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Glenn L. Bateman
Registration:
ZS-ACC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Johannesburg – Pietermaritzburg
MSN:
2058
YOM:
1930
Location:
Mt Tandjiesberg
Free State
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was owned by Glenn L. Bateman and piloted by Lieutenant Glen Kidston and Captain Thomas Anthony Gladstone. They were looking for a new route from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg. While cruising at an altitude of 300 metres, the aircraft entered clouds, lost a wing and crashed in a rocky area located on Mt Tandjiesberg, some 25 km northeast from Harrismith, Free State. Both occupants were killed and the lost wing was found 183 metres from the main wreckage.
Probable cause:
A wing failed in flight, most probably due to atmospheric turbulences encountered in the cloudy area.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth in Baragwanath

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1930
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
George Scott Lindsay
Registration:
ZS-ABX
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Baragwanath - Baragwanath
MSN:
1209
YOM:
1930
Location:
Baragwanath
Gauteng
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane for unknown reasons while taking off from Baragwanath. The pilot, sole on board, was injured.

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

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1930
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Bloemfontein Light Plane Club
Registration:
ZS-AAX
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bloemfontein - Bloemfontein
MSN:
587
YOM:
1928
Location:
Bloemfontein
Free State
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing for unknown reasons. Both crew members were injured and the aircraft damaged beyond repair.

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.60G Gipsy Moth in Kinross

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1929
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-ABG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
415
YOM:
1927
Location:
Kinross
Mpumalanga
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Johannesburg on a solo private flight. En route, he was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reasons. The aircraft crashed near Kinross and was destroyed. The pilot was uninjured.
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