Region
Africa

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK in Bloemfontein

Date & Time: May 6, 1994
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
6816
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
12112
YOM:
1943
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:
After takeoff from Bloemfontein, the crew encountered engine problems. The aircraft lost height and crash landed in Bloemspruit, south of the airport. Both pilots were rescued and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Casa 212 Aviocar 200 in Umtata: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1993
Type of aircraft:
Casa 212 Aviocar
Operator:
Transkei Defence Force Air Wing
Registration:
TDF-01
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Umtata - Umtata
MSN:
362
YOM:
1986
Location:
Umtata
Gauteng
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff from Umtata Airport while engaged in a local training flight. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 404 Titan II in Pretoria: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1991
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 404 Titan
Operator:
AOC Survey
Registration:
ZS-LUI
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pretoria - Pretoria
MSN:
404-0100
YOM:
1977
Location:
Pretoria-Wonderboom
Gauteng
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Following a survey mission of 4 hours and 10 minutes, the twin engine aircraft returned to Pretoria-Wonderboom Airport where it was refueled. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the left engine failed. The pilot elected to return when the aircraft lost height, struck a tree and crashed, bursting into flames. Two occupants were killed and two others were injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine during initial climb for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Swearingen SA226TC Metro II in Johannesburg

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1988
Type of aircraft:
Swearingen SA226 Metro II
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-LKG
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
TC-291
YOM:
1979
Location:
Johannesburg-Oliver Reginald Tambo (Jan Smuts)
Gauteng
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Johannesburg-Jan Smuts Airport, the crew declared an emergency following the failure of the left engine. The crew elected to return but eventually completed a belly landing in a field located near the airport. All 12 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine shortly after takeoff for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Durban

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1988
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
City Air
Registration:
ZS-KPF
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:
Margate – Nelspruit
MSN:
402B-0602
YOM:
1974
Location:
Durban
KwaZulu-Natal
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Margate Airport, while on a charter flight to Nelspruit, the pilot encountered a red warning light for the right main gear. He was cleared by ATC to divert to Durban Airport for an emergency landing when the twin engine aircraft crashed on approach. All eight occupants were rescued.

Crash of a Rockwell Shrike Commander 500S in Louws Creek: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1988
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Shrike Commander 500
Operator:
Registration:
C9-AOO
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
500-3179
YOM:
1974
Location:
Louws Creek
Mpumalanga
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route, the twin engine airplane encountered poor weather conditions and crashed near Louws Creek. One occupant was seriously injured while two others were killed.

Crash of a Dornier DO.28D-1 Skyservant in Mossel Bay

Date & Time: May 16, 1988
Type of aircraft:
Dornier DO.28D Skyservant
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-PRW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
4028
YOM:
1969
Location:
Mossel Bay
Western Cape
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant's fate unknown.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C in Hennenman: 24 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1988 at 2008 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-UAS
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bloemfontein - Johannesburg
MSN:
6154
YOM:
1942
Location:
Hennenman
Free State
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was completing a charter flight from Bloemfontein to Johannesburg, carrying a team of jockeys and trainers. While cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet, the captain declared an emergency due to an in-flight fire in the cabin. Cleared to return to Bloemfontein Airport, the crew started an emergency descent when the aircraft entered a dive and crashed in a 45° nose-down angle in an open field located in Hennenman, about 25 km east of Welkom. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 24 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Jacob Kalt, captain,
Harold Whitehead, copilot,
Jacqueline Henderson, stewardess.
Passengers:
Keith Basel,
Lawrence Riley,
Johannes “Rooies” Fourie,
Warren Baillie,
Bennie de Wet,
Greg Holme,
Douglas Roper,
Danny Lombard,
John McMurtry,
Mark Nel,
Michael Coetzee,
Simon Rahilly,
Gordon Sterley
Graham Kent,
Dave Bullock,
Henry Havergall,
Ginger Masterton,
Johannes van der Linden,
Jacobus Viljoen,
Neville Blignaut,
Hennie van Wyk.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a high intensity fire developed under the floor of the main cabin just behind the cockpit. The airplane crashed about 2 1/2 minutes after the crew declared an emergency. No error on part of the crew was noticed during investigations and it was reported that the aircraft's maintenance was in accordance with regulations. No technical issues were found on the aircraft. Control was lost after the pilot have been intoxicated by fumes inhalation. It is believed that the fire may erupted following the failure of a fuel booster pump connected to the right engine.

Crash of an Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante in Germiston: 17 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1988 at 1728 LT
Type of aircraft:
Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-LGP
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Phalaborwa – Johannesburg
MSN:
110-402
YOM:
1982
Flight number:
MN206
Location:
Germiston
Gauteng
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
On approach to Johannesburg-Jan Smuts Airport, the twin engine aircraft suffered an in-flight explosion, broke in two and crashed in a industrial area located in Germiston, about 13 km southwest from the airport. The cockpit was found about 250 meters from the main wreckage and all 17 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of an in-flight explosion caused by the detonation of a bomb. A mineworker encountering marital and financial problems boarded the plane at Phalaborwa Airport with a bomb consisting of nitroglycerin and ammonium nitrate. He recently contracted an important life insurance.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 Dakota IV near Bloemfontein

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
6843
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
14164/25609
YOM:
1944
Location:
Bloemfontein
Free State
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, an engine failed and caught fire. The crew completed an emergency near a road in the region of Bloemfontein. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine fire for unknown reasons.
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