2009-12-28 15:47
All four passengers on board a six-seater plane that crashed in the mountains in Harrismith on Monday have died, paramedics said.
"The plane, a Beach* Bonanza, crashed into the side of the Platberg Mountains in thick mist on Monday," Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha said.
Botha said that paramedics and emergency services had trouble reaching the crash site as the plane went down in a "very inaccessible" area in the mountains.
Paramedics were notified about the crash at 13:30 but by 15:00 had still not been able to reach the scene.
"They have had to leave their vehicles up on the mountain and to go onto four-by-fours to get over [to the crash site]."
Free State police spokesperson Sergeant Mmako Mophiring said earlier the police station in the area had been contacted about the plane's whereabouts.
"It was reported that it had been missing. Later they heard it had crashed."
He said police were also making their way to the site.
The SA Civil Aviation Authorities' Phindile Gwebu confirmed the crash had taken place and said further information would be available later.
Botha said police and aviation authorities will be conducting an investigation into the incident.
Source:
4 killed in Harrismith plane crash: News24: SouthAfrica: News
- SAPA
( Obviously the reporter is unaware that the spelling is Beechcraft *!)