Natal Mercury Report
Sorry I know it is a bit late but here is a bit more detail of this tragedy :
SAA pilot killed in aerobatics plane crash
By Monica Laganparsad
A pilot who worked for South African Airways was killed on Saturday when the aerobatics plane he was flying crashed into the ocean at Umdloti Beach.
Greg Manning, 42, was an experienced pilot who had just been promoted to training captain of a Boeing 737.
According to witness Graham Manning (no relation), the plane was flying at low levels when it suddenly dropped from the sky.
'it jerked, dropped from the sky, hit the water and sank'
"He flew around and then suddenly it jerked, dropped from the sky, hit the water and sank straight to the bottom," he said.
Police Inspector Michael Read said Manning had left Virginia Airport just after 10am.
"Search and Rescue have recovered the wreckage, the pilot's licence and his watch. The plane crashed offshore just beyond the breakers. At this stage we don't know what happened; there was no distress call."
Five minutes before Manning took off from Virginia Airport, trainee pilot Nesahv Nirmal, 18, was in a plane beside him. He was getting into the Zlin 50, which is an aerobatics plane.
"I didn't know him personally but I knew of him. He was a very experienced pilot. I think I was the last person to see him alive. It's a little hair-raising.
'He waved before he took off'
"We were both waiting to take off at the same time and I could see him in the cockpit. He waved before he took off."
Police divers, Search and Rescue and the National Sea Rescue Institute searched for hours for the wreckage and Manning's body.
Commander of Search and Rescue, Troy Allison, said the wreckage was found at a depth of 12m.
"We found the engine, then the tailpiece and then the body of the pilot. The wreckage and body were found about 35 metres from the engine.
"The conditions made it difficult and prolonged the recovery."
Investigators from the Civil Aviation Authority, based in Pretoria, flew to Durban on Saturday to investigate the circumstances.
Speaking for the Aviation Authority, Trevor Davids said: "We are unaware of the exact cause of the crash. We have eyewitness reports that will form part of the investigation."