Two Albatross Aircraft Missing Tzaneen.
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Two Albatross Aircraft Missing Tzaneen.
Anybody with any news on the aircraft missing in the Tzaneen area?. I know the area pretty well, and also know the weather can get crappy. That escarpment is treacherous and has claimed many lives in light aircraft. I pray this is not a CFIT. I'll try and keep posted on the search and rescue operation. Please don't let it be!!!!
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Search hampered by Wx. Georges Valley and Magoebaskloof in thick mist AM.
Rumours swirling around about wreckage being found after a middair collision are false!
Holding thumbs for all concerned.
ASN Aircraft accident 14-AUG-2011 Piaggio P-166S Albatross ZS-NJX
Rumours swirling around about wreckage being found after a middair collision are false!
Holding thumbs for all concerned.
ASN Aircraft accident 14-AUG-2011 Piaggio P-166S Albatross ZS-NJX
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According to News24, the wreckage has been found and looks like a mid air collision.
Terribly sad news.
ETA: News24 has now changed their report to "Uncertain about wreckage being found"
Terribly sad news.
ETA: News24 has now changed their report to "Uncertain about wreckage being found"
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This is not the DRC and these are not microlites!
Surely it is possible to locate 2 planes quicker than this - they must be on private land and not that far from towns/houses?
Surely it is possible to locate 2 planes quicker than this - they must be on private land and not that far from towns/houses?
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The area is very mountainous and the weather there is foul. Finding these aircraft before the weather clears is no easy task. There are many people involved in the search but in many area's an arial search is still not possible.
Sadly as more time passes hope starts to fade. Nightfall approaches for the second time over the site and temperatures will be low overnight. The chances of finding survivors is deminishing.
Very very sad indeed.
Sadly as more time passes hope starts to fade. Nightfall approaches for the second time over the site and temperatures will be low overnight. The chances of finding survivors is deminishing.
Very very sad indeed.
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Earlier today, News24 reported an eyewitness observing both planes coming down.
Airforce helicopter with ground search party sent to location of witness. The terrain is wild and the search would be on foot due to weather.
Airforce helicopter with ground search party sent to location of witness. The terrain is wild and the search would be on foot due to weather.
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The 2 Aircraft is Found
The wreckage of the 2 missing aircraft was found in the mountains in the Maake district (120km East of Tzaneen, according to news 24) which doesn't make sense, as that would put the accident site half way to Mozambique. It looks like the classic CFIT accident that I hope it would not be. I am furious and sad!!!. How could these type of accidents with professional and experienced pilots still happen. Basic rules were ignored, WHY!!!. My prayers go out to the grieving families. I am so sorry for your loss.
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This is sad, but not unexpected news.
Were the aircraft flying/cleared IFR or VFR... (so many other questions)?
piapito do we know that basic rules were ignored?
Caco
Were the aircraft flying/cleared IFR or VFR... (so many other questions)?
piapito do we know that basic rules were ignored?
Caco
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Indeed it is sad. No its a tragedy. I believe 13 on board and all perished. So many families shattered.
What would possess the pilots to fly 2 old aeroplanes full of passengers in formation in such weather. Why, why why. I understand the pilots held PPL's, anyone know if this is correct? Did they hold instrument ratings?
What would possess the pilots to fly 2 old aeroplanes full of passengers in formation in such weather. Why, why why. I understand the pilots held PPL's, anyone know if this is correct? Did they hold instrument ratings?
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Apparently the eyewitness saw the 2 aircraft coming down and then he heard the noise of impact.
Looks like a midair in poor visibilty rather than controlled flight into terrain.
No word yet on survivors.
Looks like a midair in poor visibilty rather than controlled flight into terrain.
No word yet on survivors.
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to fly 2 old aeroplanes full of passengers in formation in such weather
The last SA formation accident in IMC I can think of was the Mercurius crash into Devil's peak!
http://planecrashinfo.com/1971/1971-24.htm
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To Cacophonix
I definitely do not know. But here is my take on a logical educated guess. The area where the wreckage was found is on par with the flight planned to gauteng (as I have done many times before). The weather was definitely IFR, which is a fact!!. So any attempt to conduct a flight VFR is ignoring a basic rule!!!. Not adhering to the published MSA in marginal weather is ignoring a basic rule!!!. The chances of both aircraft suffering engine failure at the same time and subsequently following the same route and descending to below MSA and crashing into the mountains at the same place is quite slim. Trying to conduct the flight below cloud and passing through the area commonly known as "the neck" would have been illegal and a obviously futile attempt. I could be wrong, but in my mind, this is probably what happened. Sad but true!!!. My heart just bleeds for the involved families for such a easily avoidable massive and tragic loss.
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Piapito i tend to agree with your analysis. Chances are slim that the pilots were obeying the law. An eyewitness reported that the aircraft came over low level in formation and a while later heard a loud crashing sound, in that kind of terrain in that kind of weather...what does that tell you???
It is very very sad for the families and friends of the lost ones. Yet the fact is that it was a totally avoidable and unnecessary disaster that has affected many many lives. What the pilots were thinking will never be known especially with passengers and CHILDREN on board!!
I am almost enraged by this...I hope and pray that a reasonable explanantion is given for why this happened!!
Maybe a time for us pilots to take a step back and look at ourselves and the decisions we take...
It is very very sad for the families and friends of the lost ones. Yet the fact is that it was a totally avoidable and unnecessary disaster that has affected many many lives. What the pilots were thinking will never be known especially with passengers and CHILDREN on board!!
I am almost enraged by this...I hope and pray that a reasonable explanantion is given for why this happened!!Maybe a time for us pilots to take a step back and look at ourselves and the decisions we take...
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Piapito
The scenario you sketch out seems a credible one. I really hope it is wrong though. Whatever the case, my heart aches for all the families friends and colleagues effected by this disaster.
Caco
The scenario you sketch out seems a credible one. I really hope it is wrong though. Whatever the case, my heart aches for all the families friends and colleagues effected by this disaster.
Caco
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Both the aircraft were flown by their respective owners. Both pilots/owners held PPL's with a night rating and were on a VFR flight plan.
Aircraft were flying in formation
Aircraft were flying in formation
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What's more is that they were in Tzaneen for the airshow, and as far as I know, the two Albatrosses do a formation show, so the pilots must have been experienced formation pilots.
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Ok, do I understand correctly that it currently looks like this:
Two PPL's without IF rating took 2 experimental catagory aircraft in formation into the cloud with both aircraft almost full of passengers.
The aircraft then either collided into each other or suffered CFIT.
Wishing the families and friends of those lost all the strength they need to get through this terrible time.
Two PPL's without IF rating took 2 experimental catagory aircraft in formation into the cloud with both aircraft almost full of passengers.
The aircraft then either collided into each other or suffered CFIT.
Wishing the families and friends of those lost all the strength they need to get through this terrible time.
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@Whinerliner, You can simplify anything to look bad, the truth is, no matter what caused the accident, these guys were accomplished formation pilots, the aircraft are not experimental, but tried and tested TCA category aeroplanes, one had a ZU registration (NTCA) out of choice. I do not know what certificates or licenses the pilots held, but they were not low time amateurs.
One of the deceased is an old high-school, and Air Force pilot training, buddy from many, many years ago. I believe his son was aboard as well. Very, very sad.
Whatever the reason (CFIT, formation collision, or other), the weather appears to have been very unpleasant, and probably contributory.
Whatever the reason (CFIT, formation collision, or other), the weather appears to have been very unpleasant, and probably contributory.