South African Air Force

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

The four engine airplane was completing a flight from Beni to Goma, carrying 59 South African troops and eight crew members from the 28th Squadron on behalf of the MONUSCO (Mission de l’Organisation des Nations unies pour la stabilisation en République Démocratique du Congo). The approach and landing were completed in heavy rain falls. After touchdown, the airplane veered off runway to the left and came to rest in a grassy area with the left wing broken in two and the n°1 engine on fire. All 67 occupants escaped uninjured and the fire was quickly contained. However, the aircraft seems to be damaged beyond repair.

Cessna 208A Caravan

The crew was completing a local night training exercice at Langebaanweg AFB. While completing various manoeuvres, the airplane went out of control and crashed in an open field located near airbase, coming to rest upside down. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were injured.

Cessna 208A Caravan

The single engine aircraft was completing a training flight from Sabi Sabi to Lydenburg on behalf of the 41st Squadron. While descending to Lydenburg, the aircraft crashed in a mountainous area near the Long Tom Pass. Two passengers were seriously injured while three other occupants were killed.

Casa 212 Aviocar

The twin engine aircraft was engaged in a local paratroopers/skydiving mission at Bloemspruit AFB that shares a runway with Bloemfontein-Bram Fischer International Airport. For unknown reasons, the aircraft landed hard on its nose, veered off runway and came to rest with its left wing on the ground. All five crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The aircraft departed Waterkloof AFB south of Pretoria around 0745LT on a flight to Mthatha. While cruising between 10,000 and 11,000 feet, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. in IMC conditions, the aircraft Giant's Castle in the Drakensberg Mountain Range and disintegrated on impact. The wreckage was found a day later and all 11 occupants were killed. The minimum safe altitude for the area was 13,800 feet. Crew: Major K. Misrole Captain Z.M. Smith Sergeant B.K. Baloyi Sergeant E. Boes Sergeant J.M. Mamabolo Corporal L. Mofokeng Passengers: Sergeant L. Sobantu Corporal N.W. Khomo Corporal A. Matlaila Corporal M.J. Mthomben Lance-corporal N.K. Aphane.

Cessna 208A Caravan

On final approach to Kei Mouth Airport in the Eastern Cape Province, the single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances. While both occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The crew was completing a positioning flight from Swartkop AFB.

Cessna 208A Caravan

The single engine aircraft departed Margate Airport to take part to a combined exercice. En route, while cruising in limited visibility, the crew encountered technical problems with the engine and decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft clipped trees and crashed near Bulwer. All 11 occupants escaped uninjured. The passengers were attached to the 41st Squadron.

Avro 696 Shackleton

The aircraft was en route from South Africa to England via Abidjan to take part to an airshow. While cruising over the desert by night, both right engines n°3 and 4 failed. Ten minutes later, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in a desert area located some 50 km north of Agwenit, Occidental Sahara. All 19 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and abandoned on site.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

After takeoff from Bloemfontein, the crew encountered engine problems. The aircraft lost height and crash landed in Bloemspruit, south of the airport. Both pilots were rescued and the aircraft was written off.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

En route, an engine failed and caught fire. The crew completed an emergency near a road in the region of Bloemfontein. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Swearingen SA226AT Merlin IV

Following an uneventful flight from Windhoek, the twin engine airplane was descending to Waterkloof AFB when it collided with a Bon Air Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain registered ZS-KTX that was approaching Pretoria-Wonderboom Airport with five people on board. Following the collision, both aircraft entered a dive and crashed between the districts of Laudium and Erasmia, southeast of Pretoria. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Namibia, killing all three crew members.

Piaggio P.166 Albatross

The twin engine airplane departed Ysterplaat AFB with a crew of two on a maritime patrol flight. At 1435LT, the crew informed ground that all was ok on board. Four minutes later, he sent a mayday message and reported "we are 40 miles from" before all contacts were lost. SAR operations were conducted but no trace of the aircraft nor both occupants was found. Crew: Maj R. C. Carter, Cpt G. M. Rossouw.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

At liftoff, the airplane suffered an engine failure, stalled and crashed in flames. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. It was engaged in a mission on behalf of the 44th Squadron.

BAe 125

The crew was engaged in a local demonstration flight at Cape Town Airport, taking part to an airshow. With two other similar aircraft in a V formation, the Mercurius completed a low pass over Cape Town Airport then proceeded to the west. Shortly later, all three aircraft struck simultaneously the slope of the Devil's Peak shrouded in clouds and located about 15 km west of Cape Town Airport. All three aircraft were totally destroyed and all 11 crew members were killed.

BAe 125

The crew was engaged in a local demonstration flight at Cape Town Airport, taking part to an airshow. With two other similar aircraft in a V formation, the Mercurius completed a low pass over Cape Town Airport then proceeded to the west. Shortly later, all three aircraft struck simultaneously the slope of the Devil's Peak shrouded in clouds and located about 15 km west of Cape Town Airport. All three aircraft were totally destroyed and all 11 crew members were killed.

Avro 696 Shackleton

The tactical submarine phase of Operation CAPEX (Cape Exercise), a joint training exercise involving elements of Britain's Royal Navy and both the SA Navy and Air Force, commenced on August 7, 1963. During this phase, the Royal Navy submarine, HMS Alliance, would relocate from her existing position south of Port Elizabeth to a position further west, from where she would take part in further exercises with the SA Navy. During this transitional phase of the submarine, Shackleton 1718 was tasked by Maritime Group to conduct a CAPEX A exercise with the submarine. Although 35 Squadron was based at the military section of DF Malan International Airport in Cape Town, the unit's headquarters was at nearby Air Force Station (AFS) Ysterplaat and it was at this latter facility that the flight crew of Shackleton 1718 received a full briefing at 12H30 on August 8, 1963. During this briefing, the Operations Officer on duty advised the Shackleton aircrew to head out over False Bay after takeoff and to transit seawards towards the exercise area. He warned them that the direct overland route to Port Elizabeth should be avoided due to anticipated high icing levels on this route. Forecast weather for the route over False Bay and then southwards was poor. Heavy icing conditions could be expected between 1 220 and 1 829 m ( 4,000 and 6,000 ft) above mean sea level (AMSL) and consequently the flight crew were further briefed that Maritime Group had granted them special clearance to transit to the exercise area under 915 m (3,000 ft) AMSL. A 244 m (800 ft) AMSL cloud base would exist with tops up to 6 707 m (22,000 ft). Heavy air turbulence could be expected with cumulonimbus clouds, hail and heavy rain throughout. Surface wind was 42 km/h (26 mph) at 340° and 92 km/h (57 mph) at 340° and 1 524 m (5,000 ft). Even though the forecast weather over the eastern overland route was no better, at least the seaward route would eliminate the risk of the aircraft accidentally flying into high ground in the conditions of much reduced visibility. The aircraft commander, captain (Capt) TH Sivertsen, when giving his own briefing, confirmed his route as south over False Bay and then seawards towards the exercise area. The flight had been authorised by Maritime Group to provide the Shackleton crew with training in the radar detection of a submarine. No special instructions were issued. Shackleton 1718 was fully serviceable for flight even though the compasses had not been swung on their normal expiry date of July 19, 1963. Maritime Group gave authorisation for a month's extension provided that no major part of the aircraft was replaced. The compasses were therefore considered serviceable. The Flight Office at Ysterplaat was uncomfortable about the weather conditions and telephoned the Maritime Group Operations Centre thrice prior to the departure of the Shackleton, in an effort to get the flight cancelled, but this request was not forthcoming. Just minutes before takeoff, Capt Sivertsen, notwithstanding his briefing instructions, informed Air Traffic Control (ATC) that he would climb to 2 896 m (9,500 ft) AMSL and head overland towards Port Elizabeth. The aircraft lifted off Runway 34 at 15H06 and turned right on 350° for the climb out. Moments later, ATC informed the commander to come to 330° so as to safely avoid Tiger Mountain. Capt Sivertsen acknowledged this transmission and did accordingly. After the lapse of about a minute, he requested clearance to resume his original course of 350°. This was the last radio transmission received from Shackleton 1718. At about 15H20 the radar technician at DF Malan requested permission to deactivate the radar for about ten minutes due to flooding of the radar installation on account of the heavy rain. This permission was granted, but before the radar was deactivated, 1718's location was given as a distance on the radar screen of about 40 km (25 miles) on a course of 100°. The ground course was about 145°. Although the evidence suggested that the airplane had crashed, most likely in the Stettynskloof/Wemmershoek Mountains area, the adverse weather conditions, combined with the lateness of the hour, precluded any meaningful attempt at a search and rescue effort being mounted until the following day, August 9. At 10H00 and again at 13H30 on August 9, helicopters were sent out to the Wemmershoek area to report on the weather, which remained completely adverse. Following a report of an aircraft having been heard, a further helicopter was despatched at 15H00 to search the mountains south of Simonstown. On August 10, another helicopter continued the search at Simonstown from 08H15, while a second aircraft was sent to report back on the weather in the Wemmershoek area. Here, the weather was still closed in, but hinted at the first signs of improvement. At 09H00 at aircraft was sent to fly high over the Wemmershoek Mountains to report on the cloud coverage. At 11H00 two aircraft continued a search in the same mountains and at 13H15 they were joined by a further pair of rotorcraft. The wreck was finally discovered from the air at 17H18 just over two days following the accident. It was evident from the almost complete destruction of the aircraft that nobody aboard could possibly have survived the crash. The crash occurred about 25.8 km (16 miles from the nearest town, Worcester, in the Stettynskloof valley between Paarl and Stellenbosch. After inspecting the crash scene, the 35 Squadron Engineering Officer, Capt WJ Stiglingh decided to investigate the failures apparent on the port elevator and the upper section of the starboard rudder, both of which detached in flight, although the Board of Inquiry (BOI) officially convened to investigate the cause of the accident, was unable to establish which broke off first. The section of the starboard rudder was found 1 620 m (5,314 ft) and the port elevator 1 250 m (4,100 ft) from the impact point. Following the disintegration of these two flight control surfaces, the aircraft would have been rendered uncontrollable. At this point (about 15H25) the pilot was heard to make his final radio transmission: “Mayday. Mayday,” but this was not recognised as such by the ATC. The timing of the transmission coincides exactly with the crash time. At the same time that the starboard rudder and port elevator detached in flight, the port fuel tip tank also broke away removing a section of the port wing and both outer elevators. The outer most starboard elevator was found further forward than the impact point of the port tip tank. Clearly, it broke away shortly after the tip tank. The port elevator, which was complete, showed relatively little damage. Most of the damage sustained was consistent with it having fallen on to its inboard end and then on to some rocks. Signs were found, however, of excessive downward movement of this elevator to the extent that the hinges had damaged the steel spar, more so at the outboard hinge where the hinge arm had actually cut into the spar. It was official opinion that pilot applied force could not have caused this damage since the control column movement in restricted by stops strong enough to resist human force. It is considered that at the time of the excessive downward movement of the elevator, the force, mainly due to leverage over the spar, was sufficient to cause failure of the hinge bolts in tension. Failure of the spar attachment upper lug clearly indicated that the outboard end of the elevator broke away first in a rearward direction. No evidence was found to suggest that this port elevator was attached to the airframe at the time of impact. Examination of the starboard elevator indicated that its upward travel had been exceeded; this and other damage to this elevator being consistent with crash damage. Regarding the section of the upper starboard rudder, the outboard skin at the break had failed in tension and the inboard skin was torn away from the front rearwards, this indicating that the broken off portion was first bent inwards and then backwards. Furthermore, apart from damage at the upper leading edge, which was inflicted when the rudder struck the ground, this portion of rudder was altogether undamaged. The rudder was probably detached from the aircraft before the point of impact. As for the lower portion of the starboard rudder, failures on the outboard and inboard skins correspond to failure on the upper section. Damage on this section would appear to indicate that it did not strike the ground at the point of impact, but that it was flung forwards and carried further assisted by the strong winds prevailing at the time. Considerable violence coupled with exceptionally strong winds and/or air turbulence was necessary to carry the port and starboard fin, port tailplane and several other pieces of empennage to their final positions. None of these parts, except the starboard fin, displayed any damage that could have occurred at the point if impact. The port tailplane front spar had pulled out along its length, shearing all its rivets. Examination of the main impact zone indicated that the fuselage struck at right angles to the main mark down the slope and the sideways cartwheel or flick might have thrown empennage parts in to the air forward of, and to the right of, the impact area. Examination of the point of impact of the port wingtip fuel tank indicated that the angle that the tank struck the ground was such that, had the tank been attached to the aircraft, the empennage should then have hit the ground. The tank was therefore most probably detached from the aircraft while still in the air. Positions of the No. 3 and 4 ailerons and part of the port wing support this reasoning. The dump valves of both port and starboard tip tanks were found in the fully open position. As these valves are electromechanically driven, they were probably intentionally open and most likely before the port tip tank impact since this tank still had a considerable amount of fuel left over in it, judging by the flash fire area. The forward portion of the starboard tip tank, on the other hand, showed no signs of flash fire or explosion, indicating that its fuel content at the time of impact must have been low. The open dump valves appear to suggest that the pilot must have been busy dumping fuel in order to reduce the load on the airframe when it experienced the heavy turbulence and just before the aircraft began disintegrating. The aircraft weighed about 43 213 kg (95,242 lb) at the time of the accident. In an attempt to reconstruct the events leading up to the crash, another Shackleton of the same weight and load as Shackleton 1718, took off from Runway 34 at DF Malan on August 22, 1963 to attempt to emulate as closely as possible the course and climb tempo of the stricken aircraft. Based on this emulation, it was ascertained that Shackleton 1718 was either at or very close to its intended cruise altitude of 2 896 m (9,500 ft) AMSL. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight had been authorised and the aircraft had been operating under IFR conditions at the time of its demise. The Board was satisfied that the flight crew were under all circumstances both qualified and capable of performing the mission with which they had been tasked. The accident occurred over State ground; property of the Department of Forestry. The terrain was unplanted, deforested and in its natural state. No claim could thus be made by the Department. There was no damage to private or other military property. Shackleton 1718 was manufactured in August 1957. Although possessing a maximum takeoff weight of 45 372 kg (100,000 lb), for its final flight it lifted off at 43 938 kg (96,840 lb). Since the aircraft was heavily laden with its maximum weight point close to the rearmost limit, the pilots would have experienced some instability in the yawing (left/right) plane. Crew: Cpt Thomas Howard Sivertsen, pilot, 2nd Lt Charles Alwyn du Plooy, copilot, Cpt Jacques Guillaume Labuschagne, pilot, Lt Abraham Gert Willem Coetzee, navigator, 2nd Lt George James Smith, navigator, C/O Derek Ian Strauss, navigator, WO2 Sydney Shields Scully, flight engineer, L/Cpl Marthienus Christoffel Vorster, flight engineer, Sgt David Hope Sheasby, signaller, L/Cpl Charl Paul Viljoen, radio operator, L/Cpl Matthys Johannes Taljaard, radio operator, L/Cpl Michel Adolf Brodreiss, radio operator, A/M Johannes Chamberlain, radio operator. Source: ASN

Short S.25 Sunderland

The crew was completing a local training sortie out from Richards Bay. On final approach by night, the seaplane crashed in flames into Lake Mzingazi, few km short of runway. Two crew members were killed while eight others were rescued.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crashed in unknown circumstances at Rand Airport. Both pilots were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Short S.25 Sunderland

Crashed on takeoff from an unknown location in South Africa. The aircraft sank and was lost while there were no casualties.

Lockheed PV-1 Ventura

Enroute to Khartoum, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances near Aljammalab, about 100 km southwest of Khartoum. The aircraft was destroyed and all 15 occupants were killed. All of them were pilots flying to UK to take deliver of Spitfire for the SAAF. Crew: Maj Frederick Welgemoed, pilot, Lt Hermanus Gerhardus van Rooyen, copilot, Petrus Andries Burger, flight engineer, Cpl Leslie Donovan Case, wireless operator. Passengers: Maj Andrew Christian Bosman, pilot, Cpt Hendrik Christoffel Weideman Liebenberg, pilot, Lt Ronald Leslie Crisp, pilot, Lt Jacobus Stephanus Gericke, pilot, Lt Robert Cecil Hirst, pilot, Lt Hermanus Johannes Kritzinger, pilot, Lt John Jurie Landman, pilot, Lt Peter David Nelson, pilot, Lt Peter Nicolay, pilot, Lt Norman Peter Prinsloo, pilot.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Few minutes after takeoff from Swartkop AFB, in the suburb of Pretoria, the crew noticed fuel streaming from the port fuel tank. The aircraft caught fire, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing in an open field. The aircraft came to rest in flames and while all four crew members escaped uninjured, the aircraft was partially destroyed by fire (center section, port engine, port fuselage and port elevator). Crew: Cpt W. L. Chiazzari, Cpl F. O. Burger, Cpl J. L. du Toit, Cpl P. Harrall. Source: http://www.dc-3.co.za

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crashed in unknown circumstances north of Broken Hill, North Rhodesia. Nine passengers were killed in the accident.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Shortly after takeoff from Kisumu Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft crashed on an island located in the Winam Bay, northeast part of the Lake Victoria. All 28 occupants were killed, among them SAAF soldiers that were released after being prisoners of war.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crashed in unknown circumstances near Waterkloof AFB while performing a training sortie. A crew member was killed.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The crew was performing a delivery flight from Blackbushe, UK, to the airbase of Waterkloof located in Pretoria. Several enroute stops were scheduled in Istres, Rome, Athens, Cairo, Wadi Halfa, Khartoum, Juba, Kisumu and Ndola. Shortly after takeoff from Kisumu Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed into Lake Victoria. Both crew members were rescued while the passenger was killed.

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

After take off from Kisumu Airport, while climbing by night, the crew encountered technical problems to raise the undercarriage because an electrical failure occurred on the undercarriage safety lock circuit. The captain decided to return to Kisumu but the twin engine aircraft crashed into the gulf of Kavirondo, 13 km off Kisumu. All 12 occupants were killed. Crew (61st Squadron): Cpt J. D. Mail, Lt W. B. Lloyd, Sgt C. V. Flusk, Cpl LaFayette. Passengers: Maj Gen D. H. Pienaar , Col F. Theron, Lt/Col E. V. Frykberg, Lt/Col E. L. Mackenzie, Maj J. W. A. Bell, Maj F. Rawlins, Cpt P. Bairnsfather-Cloete, Sgt A. F. Weldon. Source: ASN

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

During take off, swerved, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. No casualties.

Avro 652 Anson

The crew left East London-Collondale AFB in the day on an aerial photography mission in formation with a second SAAF Anson registered 3164. En route, in unknown circumstances, both aircraft collided. While the pilot of the 3164 was able to make an emergency landing at Collondale, the Anson registered 1212 dove into the ground and crashed in flames in a field located 1,5 mile southwest of the airfield. 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.

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with storm activity. When some instruments became out of service, the captain attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft came to rest in a marshy field located near the Dodo River, in the region of Brass. There was no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Junkers JU.52

The three engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances 13 km northeast of Mbeya. All 15 occupants were killed. Source: http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19410108-0

Junkers F.13

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in South Africa. The single engine aircraft was christened 'Cutty Sark'.

Vickers FB.27 Vimy Commercial

On approach to Bulawayo, Matabeleland, the crew encountered problems and the aircraft crashed. Both occupants, engaged in a cross country flight to Cape Town, South Africa, were injured and the aircraft named 'Silver Queen II' was destroyed. Crew: Lt Col Pierre van Ryneveld, Lt Christopher Joseph Quintin-Brand.

Vickers FB.27 Vimy Commercial

The crew departed Brooklands, UK, for Derna on the night of 04FEB1920. After a 11-hour flight, the crew encountered bad weather conditions over the Mediterranean Sea but was able to land without problems in Derna, Lybia, to refuel. While approaching Wadi Halfa Airport by night, the crew encountered technical problems (a radiator leak) when the aircraft crashed short of runway. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft named 'Silver Queen' was destroyed. Crew: Lt Col Pierre Van Ryneveld, Lt Christopher Joseph Quintin-Brand.