Western Cape | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was completing an anti-sub-marine patrol mission off the South African coast when a fuel exhaustion forced the captain to ditch the seaplane off L'Agulhas. All crew members survived while the aircraft was deliberately sunk by a machine gun.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

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

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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:

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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.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

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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 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:

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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:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Walvis Bay – Cape Town

MSN:

2034

YOM:

1940

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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

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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

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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:

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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.