Western Cape | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

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:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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 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:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

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 De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth in Du Toitskloof: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1936

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth

Operator:

Registration:

ZS-AFG

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Johannesburg – Cape Town

MSN:

2177

YOM:

1931

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While flying over mountainous terrain east of Paarl, the single engine aircraft a mountain slope located in Du Toitskloof, some 70 km east of Cape Town. Both occupants J. F. Buchan and K. Leigh were killed.

Crash of a Spartan Three Seater I off Cape Town

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1933

Type of aircraft:

Spartan Three Seater I/II

Operator:

Aero Services - South Africa

Registration:

ZS-ADP

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

YOM:

1931

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Germiston on a taxi flight with two passengers and one pilot on board. In unknown circumstances, it crashed into the sea off Cape Town. All three occupants were rescued.

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:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Durban - Cape Town

MSN:

2110

YOM:

1930

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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 Handley Page O/7 in Acadia Siding

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1920

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page O/7

Operator:

Registration:

G-EANV

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

HP.7

YOM:

1919

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot encountered control problems and elected to make an emergency landing in Acadia Siding. All nine occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

It appears that the rudder came out of its bearing, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing.