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Possible ‘misjudgment’ caused KZN pilot and Springbok canoeist to crash into cliff, claims report 24 February 2021 - 12:10 Soot left by an explosion at the place of impact over the Umkomazi River where former Springbok canoeist Mark Perrow died after crashing his light aircraft into the mountain in March last year. Image: SACAA
An investigation into the possible cause of a KwaZulu-Natal plane crash which claimed the life of pilot Mark Perrow, 55, a former SA Olympian canoeist, in March last year has revealed crucial details leading up to the crash.
An accident report by the SA Civil Aviation Authority (Sacaa) revealed Perrow - who had been monitoring the Nyala Pans to St Elmos race while flying over the Umkomazi River, near Richmond, in his light aircraft - “had probably misjudged his proximity to the cliff” before veering left into it.
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The pilot, the only occupant, swam to shore and has minor injuries.
A local farm manager took the pilot to hospital following the crash.
A 36-year-old pilot survived when a helicopter crashed into the Clanwilliam Dam in the Western Cape on Thursday morning.
The pilot – the only occupant of the aircraft – swam to safety.
Western Cape police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed the crash. On Thursday… at about 08:45, a complaint was received that a helicopter crashed into Clanwilliam Dam. The pilot of the helicopter was able to get out of the helicopter and swim to land, Van Wyk said.
Following the fatal Netcare 911 helicopter crash last month in which five medics were killed near Bergville in northern KwaZulu-Natal, the SA Civil Aviation Authority (Sacaa) has raised concerns over the recent spike in aircraft accidents.
According to Sacaa, 14 accidents were reported last month alone, with four claiming the lives of eight people.
“While air transport still remains the safest among all modes of transport, to us as the regulator one life lost is just one too many. With stringent regulations in place, coupled with layers of checks and balances, the expectation is that the measures inherent in the system, – that is both safety and security – should work as they are supposed to,” said Poppy Khoza, the CEO of Sacaa.
The Netcare 911 air ambulance was reduced to mere ashes after an eye witness reported that it exploded into flame in mid-air. (The Witness)
SA Civil Aviation Authority investigators are collecting evidence at the site of a fatal helicopter crash in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
The crash killed the pilot and four healthcare workers, who were on their way to transport a critically ill patient to Johannesburg.
The accident is under investigation.
The SA Civil Aviation Authority (Sacaa) is currently collecting evidence which may shed some light on what caused a helicopter crash that killed four healthcare workers and a pilot this week.