Region
Africa

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson I near Alice: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
3250
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Alice
Western Cape
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While on a night navigation exercise, the twin engine airplane impacted the slope of a mountain (Amatola) near Alice. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt N. A. Chambers, pilot,
Alexander Methven, mechanic,
Lac Harry Burroughs,
Lac Robert P. W. Stevens.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson I in Cape Town

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
3296
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Cape Town
Western Cape
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, the airplane suffered a technical failure and crashed onto a house. All five occupants escaped with various injuries.
Probable cause:
Technical failure on takeoff.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Bloemfontein

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1942
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
1361
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6628
YOM:
1942
Location:
Bloemfontein
Free State
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed while taking off from Bloemfontein Airport and came to rest upside down. All six occupants escaped with minor injuries. The airplane was not repaired.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during takeoff after aileron control jammed.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-08-01 LodeStar in South Africa

Date & Time: May 6, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
246
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
18-2053
YOM:
1940
Location:
South Africa
All South Africa
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taking off from an unknown airfield in South Africa, the twin engine airplane swerved. It veered off runway and came to rest, bursting into flames. The airplane was destroyed and there were no casualties.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in East London: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
1212
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
East London - East London
Location:
East London
Eastern Cape
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed East London-Collondale AFB on an aerial photography mission in formation with a second SAAF Anson registered 3164. In unknown circumstances, both aircraft collided in flight. While the pilot of the 3164 was able to perform an emergency landing at Collondale AFB, the second Anson registered 1212 entered a dive and crashed in a field located 1,5 mile southwest of the airbase, bursting into flames. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (41st Squadron):
P/O D. I. Fraser, pilot,
2nd Lt C. P. Davis, copilot,
LAC E. Portnell, observer,
LAC T. E. D. Tighe, observer,
LAC J. D. Schenfield, observer.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth off Mossel Bay

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1941
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth
Operator:
Registration:
1410
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
7106
YOM:
1935
Location:
Mossel Bay
Western Cape
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane ran out of fuel and crashed into the sea some 86 km south of Mossel Bay. The pilot, sole on board, was rescued.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

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:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
7112
YOM:
1935
Location:
Harrismith
Free State
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
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 Lockheed 18-08 LodeStar in Cape Town

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-ATH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2054
YOM:
1941
Location:
Cape Town
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:
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:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Walvis Bay – Cape Town
MSN:
2034
YOM:
1940
Location:
Elands Bay
Western Cape
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
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 an Avro 594 Avian II in Aasvoelkop

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Avro 594 Avian
Operator:
Eric Stanbridge
Registration:
ZS-AAC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cape Town - Cape Town
MSN:
122
YOM:
1928
Location:
Aasvoelkop
Mpumalanga
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a solo sortie from Cape Town. While approaching the Piketberg area, weather conditions worsened and the airplane crashed in hilly terrain in Aasvoelkop. The pilot was uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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