Johannesburg – Pietermaritzburg

The aircraft was owned by Glenn L. Bateman and piloted by Lieutenant Glen Kidston and Captain Thomas Anthony Gladstone. They were looking for a new route from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg. While cruising at an altitude of 300 metres, the aircraft entered clouds, lost a wing and crashed in a rocky area located on Mt Tandjiesberg, some 25 km northeast from Harrismith, Free State. Both occupants were killed and the lost wing was found 183 metres from the main wreckage.

Flight / Schedule

Johannesburg – Pietermaritzburg

Registration

ZS-ACC

MSN

2058

Year of Manufacture

1930

Date

May 5, 1931 at 11:30 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Private

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Crash Location

Mt Tandjiesberg Free State

Region

Africa • South Africa

Crash Cause

Weather

Narrative Report

On May 5, 1931 at 11:30 AM, Johannesburg – Pietermaritzburg experienced a crash involving De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth, operated by Glenn L. Bateman, with the event recorded near Mt Tandjiesberg Free State.

The flight was categorized as private and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.

2 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is weather. The aircraft was owned by Glenn L. Bateman and piloted by Lieutenant Glen Kidston and Captain Thomas Anthony Gladstone. They were looking for a new route from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg. While cruising at an altitude of 300 metres, the aircraft entered clouds, lost a wing and crashed in a rocky area located on Mt Tandjiesberg, some 25 km northeast from Harrismith, Free State. Both occupants were killed and the lost wing was found 183 metres from the main wreckage.

Aircraft reference details include registration ZS-ACC, MSN 2058, year of manufacture 1930.

Fatalities

Total

2

Crew

2

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

The aircraft was owned by Glenn L. Bateman and piloted by Lieutenant Glen Kidston and Captain Thomas Anthony Gladstone. They were looking for a new route from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg. While cruising at an altitude of 300 metres, the aircraft entered clouds, lost a wing and crashed in a rocky area located on Mt Tandjiesberg, some 25 km northeast from Harrismith, Free State. Both occupants were killed and the lost wing was found 183 metres from the main wreckage.

Cause: Weather

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

2

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 2

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Johannesburg – Pietermaritzburg

Flight Type

Private

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Region / Country

Africa • South Africa

Aircraft Details

Registration

ZS-ACC

MSN

2058

Year of Manufacture

1930