Wonderboom plane crash airworthiness certificate due to expire next month – aviation body

2018-07-11 19:08
Plane crash at Wonderboom. (Supplied)

Plane crash at Wonderboom. (Supplied)

Multimedia   ·   User Galleries   ·   News in Pictures Send us your pictures  ·  Send us your stories

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) says that the Convair 340 airplane that crashed in Wonderboom on Tuesday had a certificate of airworthiness which was due to expire in August.

One person was killed on Tuesday, and a second person died on Wednesday following the crash.

The SACAA said it had assigned a team of investigators to probe the cause of the accident that happened soon after take-off. The aircraft was due to depart for the Aviodrome air museum in the Netherlands on Wednesday.

"The investigation is still at an early stage and therefore some details are yet to be verified," said SACAA spokesperson Kabelo Ledwaba.

Ledwaba said the SACAA would like to be given the time and space to thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident.

"Furthermore, the SACAA wishes to point out that investigations can vary in complexity and may at times take a significant time to complete. However, a preliminary report will be issued within 30 days of the accident," he said.

Following the accident on Tuesday, emergency services could not immediately provide clarity on the number of people on board the airplane when it crashed.

According to SACAA, the plane had 19 people on board, which consisted of 16 passengers, two pilots and a flight engineer.

"There were a number of serious injuries with one fatal injury confirmed at the accident scene. In addition, three people who were on the ground were injured; one of them passed away [on Wednesday] morning," Ledwaba said.

He said the completion of the investigation would be marked by a final accident report which would also contain safety recommendations aimed at improving the levels of aviation safety and preventing similar accidents.

Ledwaba said the final report could take up to a year to complete.

KEEP UPDATED on the latest news by subscribing to our FREE newsletter.

- FOLLOW News24 on Twitter