A109 LUH Down

[makrider]

Air force chopper crashes
12/05/2009 14:12 - (SA)
Durban - An air force helicopter crashed into a dam in the upper Tugela area on Tuesday and its three occupants were presumed dead, KwaZulu-Natal police said.
Captain Charmaine Struwig said the helicopter was on its way to Dragon's Peak at 11:00 when it plunged into Woodstock Dam and sank.
"Police divers and SA National Defence Force divers have been called in to assist in the recovery of the wreckage and the bodies of the occupants who are at this stage suspected to have drowned," she said.
The cause of the accident was not immediately known.
Struwig said the identities of the passengers could not be released yet.
- SAPA



http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Afri ... 90,00.html (http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2515190,00.html)

[birrddog]

Just read this news report (http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_South%20Africa&set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20090513175401879C596780) from an online paper.

The body of one of the South African Air Force members killed in a helicopter crash was found on Wednesday, KwaZulu-Natal police said.

Director Phindile Radebe said the three SAAF members died when their Agusta A109 helicopter crashed into a dam in the upper Tugela area on Tuesday.

"We have found one body so far and the wreckage. Police divers and South African National Defence Force divers are still busy searching for the other two," she said.

The accident happened during a training flight to Dragons Peak Park in KwaZulu-Natal. The helicopter plunged into Woodstock Dam and sank. - SapaAnyone here got any further information?

[Taxidriver009]

Victims named here:

Chopper crash victims named: South Africa: News: News24 (http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2517601,00.html)

Any word on what happened? Mechanical failure, CFIT, turbulence?

[iuk1963]

:bored: "turbulence"?..

[If all else fails]

Heard this acft may have been conducting low level flight as part of a three ship formation. Confirmation anyone?....SAAF??

[iuk1963]

got the same rumour

[AAKEE]

I got info that it was a three ship flying low over some water( over a pond if I recall it right), the subsequent helis saw the LUH hit the water.
The SA armed forces did not ground the fleet.