Country
South Africa
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Crash of a Junkers W.34fi in Eshowe: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Junkers W.34
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-AEB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Durban – Johannesburg
MSN:
2735
YOM:
1933
Location:
Eshowe
KwaZulu-Natal
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
En route from Durban to Johannesburg, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with poor visibility due to fog. Too low, the airplane impacted the slope of a hill and was destroyed. A passenger was critically injured and all five other occupants were killed.
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:
Bethlehem
Free State
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
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.

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.
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