Zone
Gauteng

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 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 Beechcraft 65-B80 Queen Air in Lanseria: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 80 Queen Air
Operator:
Sunair
Registration:
9J-AAW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lusaka – Johannesburg
MSN:
LD-429
YOM:
1970
Location:
Lanseria
Gauteng
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Lusaka on an ambulance flight to Johannesburg. While descending to Jan smuts Airport, the pilot encountered limited visibility due to poor weather conditions and was diverted to Lanseria Airport. Few minutes later, while approaching Lanseria, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all five occupants.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL in Graskop

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1982
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-EJK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Johannesburg – Skukuza
MSN:
19484
YOM:
1944
Location:
Graskop
Mpumalanga
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route on a charter flight from Johannesburg to Skukuza under IFR mode, the crew was unable to receive the NDB signal. Due to poor visibility, the crew decided to divert to Hoedspruit Airport and started the descent when the airplane stuck a hill and crashed. All 30 occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that there was a malfunction of the ADF as the crew thought he was approaching Hoedspruit Airport while the aircraft was 67 km southwest of this city.

Crash of a Boeing 747-130 in Nairobi: 59 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1974 at 0754 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 747-100
Operator:
Registration:
D-ABYB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Frankfurt - Nairobi - Johannesburg
MSN:
19747/29
YOM:
1970
Flight number:
LH540
Location:
Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta (ex Embakasi)
Nairobi City District
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
17
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
140
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
59
Captain / Total flying hours:
10464
Captain / Total hours on type:
1619.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3418
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2237
Aircraft flight hours:
16781
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane named 'Hessen' lifted off from runway 24 at a speed of 145 knots. During initial climb, at a height of 100 feet, the airplane stalled and struck the ground 1,120 meters past the runway end. It flew again for about 114 meters then struck an embankment and crashed in flames 340 meters further. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. 55 passengers and 4 crew members were killed while 98 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Wrong takeoff configuration on part of the flying crew. The accident was caused by the crew initiating a take-off with the leading edge flaps retracted because the pneumatic system which operates them had not been switched on. This resulted in the aircraft becoming airborne in a partially stalled condition which the pilots did not identify in the short time available to them for recovery. Major contributory factors were the lack of warning of a critical condition of leading edge flap position and the failure of the crew to complete satisfactorily their checklist items.
Final Report:

Crash of a Volpar Turboliner 18 near Johannesburg: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Volpar Turboliner 18
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-PRA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Johannesburg – Pretoria
MSN:
4645
YOM:
1969
Location:
Johannesburg
Gauteng
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Johannesburg-Jan Smuts Airport, while climbing, the twin engine airplane exploded in mid-air and crashed in flames 12 km north of the airfield. All three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Vickers 806 Viscount in Johannesburg

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1957 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
G-AOYF
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Johannesburg - Johannesburg
MSN:
255
YOM:
1957
Location:
Johannesburg-Oliver Reginald Tambo (Jan Smuts)
Gauteng
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was temporarily based at the Jan Smuts Airport where the manufacturers were conducting experimental flights which included measured takeoff s and landings. The data had to be obtained for incorporation in the Aircraft Flight Manual to be associated with the certification for public transport operation. The aircraft was being operated in the special categories Research or Experimental and Demonstration. The captain was cleared to use runway 03, the main instrument runway, and took off at 1040 hours on an experimental flight. After completing a circuit, the captain was cleared to land back on runway 03. He approached the runway, holding at 300 - 400 feet until he passed over the threshold. At this point the angle of descent increased to about 45°. The descent continued until the aircraft was about 70 feet above the surface of the runway where it leveled out, but the path of descent appeared to remain fixed at about 45° until touchdown where upon the main bogies appeared to move rearwards and inwards with the starboard side moving rearwards somewhat further than the port side. After this the aircraft bounced a few feet before settling down further along the runway. At this stage heavy smoke was emitted from both bogies as the aircraft continued forward. It finally swung to the right and off the runway and came to rest on a heading of 180° M at a point approximately 1,590 yards from the threshold. No one was killed or injured, but the aircraft was substantially damaged.
Probable cause:
The misjudged roundout resulted in a heavy landing which caused the star- board undercarriage to collapse.
Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 616 Viking AB in Salisbury

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1955 at 1427 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viking
Operator:
Registration:
VP-YEX
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Johannesburg – Salisbury
MSN:
159
YOM:
1946
Flight number:
CAA120
Location:
Harare
Harare Province
Country:
Zimbabwe
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Jan Smuts Airport at 1115LT on a scheduled flight to Belvedere Airport, Salisbury, under VFR conditions, carrying 23 passengers and a crew of 5. At 1427LT, while approaching runway 27 from the east on final approach during a thunderstorm, the undercarriage struck the ground a short distance to the north and east of the threshold of runway 27, causing the starboard tire to burst, the starboard leg of the undercarriage to break and the starboard propeller engine to be severely damaged. The pilot endeavored to undertake overshoot procedure but as the starboard engine and propeller could not deliver power and the aircraft was at a speed below the minimum required for effective control, he was obliged to make a crash landing. No one was injured but the aircraft was extensively damaged.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused not by mechanical defect of the aircraft nor by the conduct of the pilot but by a combination of unusual and unexpected circumstances . Had the sudden downpour of rain not taken place at the critical moment, it is almost certain that no accident would have occurred.
Final Report:
Subscribe to Johannesburg-Oliver Reginald Tambo (Jan Smuts)