Free State | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The twin engine aircraft was engaged in a local paratroopers/skydiving mission at Bloemspruit AFB that shares a runway with Bloemfontein-Bram Fischer International Airport. For unknown reasons, the aircraft landed hard on its nose, veered off runway and came to rest with its left wing on the ground. All five crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600) near Cornelia: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 2005 at 1655 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600)

Operator:

Aquila Air

Registration:

N7478S

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Pretoria – Harrismith

MSN:

60-0041-090

YOM:

1970

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5929

Circumstances:

On 18 January 2005 at approximately 1340Z, the pilot accompanied by 4 passengers, took off on a private flight from FAWB (Wonderboom Aerodrome) to FAHS (Harrismith aerodrome). However, the pilot advised the FAWB ATC (Wonderboom Air Traffic Controller) that the intended destination was Springs via Delmas. Sometime after 1455Z the aircraft impacted the ground at a high descent rate and high forward speed on a heading of 260˚M in a 15˚ nose-down and 30˚ right-wing low attitude, whilst the nose of the aircraft was facing in a direction of 211˚M, near Cornelia. Partly cloudy weather conditions, with isolated thundershowers prevailed at the time of the accident. Although there were no eyewitnesses to the accident, local inhabitants reported a severe storm in the vicinity of the accident site at the estimated time of the accident. The five occupants were fatally injured and the aircraft destroyed on impact.

Probable cause:

The pilot may have lost control of the aircraft due to adverse weather conditions and entered a spiral whilst descending for landing at Harrismith. According to the official weather report, the most likely weather conditions at the place of the accident were partly cloudy with isolated thundershowers. Although there were no eyewitnesses to the accident, local inhabitants reported a severe storm in the vicinity of the accident site at the estimated time of the accident.

Final Report:

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:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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 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:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Bloemfontein - Johannesburg

MSN:

6154

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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 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 Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

14164/25609

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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.

Crash of a Rockwell Gulfstream 690C Jetprop 840 in Parys: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1981

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Gulfstream 690C Jetprop 840

Operator:

Ramaniko Trust

Registration:

ZS-KRS

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

690-11644

YOM:

1980

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Parys Airport, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed few hundred meters short of runway, bursting into flames. All five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure on final approach for unknown reasons.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth in Oranjeville

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1958

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth

Operator:

Aerial Farming Services

Registration:

ZS-CFP

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Oranjeville - Oranjeville

MSN:

4023

YOM:

1932

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

At liftoff, the single engine airplane struck a stone wall and crashed inverted. The pilot was injured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-49K in Mt Spitzkop : 13 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1948 at 0720 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-49 (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

ZS-BWY

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Durban – Johannesburg – London

MSN:

6341

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft left Durban in the early morning on a flight to London via Johannesburg. While cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Spitzkop located 32 km south of Vrede, in the Witkoppens Mountain Range. All 13 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was off track by eight miles, probably due to navigational error on part of the crew, caused by the lack of visibility due to poor weather conditions.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth near Harrismith: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1941

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth

Operator:

Registration:

1412

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

7112

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

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 De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth in Bethlehem

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1933

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

ZS-ABJ

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Durban - Basutoland

MSN:

1125

YOM:

1929

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed Durban on a taxi flight to Basutoland. En route, the pilot encountered engine problems and made an precautionary landing in an open field located in Bethlehem. After takeoff, control was lost and the airplane crashed in a pasture. Both occupants were rescued and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

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