SAA DC3 'Klapperkop' crashes
SAA DC3 'Klapperkop' crashes
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Johannesburg
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Klapperkop
The following is an extract from African pilots weekly email
One of the world’s most famous DC-3s, S A Historic Flight’s “Klapperkop” was damaged in a forced landing in an open field near Lanseria on Friday late afternoon. Fortunately the three-crew members were not injured and the aircraft will probably be restored once a full assessment of what caused the double engine failure. The aircraft had earlier flown from Swartkop Air Station, where the Historic Flight is based, to Lanseria and undertaken a scenic flight lasting an hour and fifteen minutes over the city of Johannesburg. The accident happened after the passengers and the airhostess were dropped off back at Lanseria, when the aircraft was been returned empty to Swartkop. It is reported that given the symptoms of a double engine failure, that fuel contamination has not been ruled out. The combined experience of the two pilots who have flown this particular DC-3 for hundreds of hours and who managed to select a suitable open field that resulted in a relatively safe landing was fortunate. Further, the aircraft did not catch fire, is therefore largely intact and stands a good chance of being re-built.
One of the world’s most famous DC-3s, S A Historic Flight’s “Klapperkop” was damaged in a forced landing in an open field near Lanseria on Friday late afternoon. Fortunately the three-crew members were not injured and the aircraft will probably be restored once a full assessment of what caused the double engine failure. The aircraft had earlier flown from Swartkop Air Station, where the Historic Flight is based, to Lanseria and undertaken a scenic flight lasting an hour and fifteen minutes over the city of Johannesburg. The accident happened after the passengers and the airhostess were dropped off back at Lanseria, when the aircraft was been returned empty to Swartkop. It is reported that given the symptoms of a double engine failure, that fuel contamination has not been ruled out. The combined experience of the two pilots who have flown this particular DC-3 for hundreds of hours and who managed to select a suitable open field that resulted in a relatively safe landing was fortunate. Further, the aircraft did not catch fire, is therefore largely intact and stands a good chance of being re-built.
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Hi guys,
I've been flying out of Lanseria all this week and the wreckage is about 2 miles out and to the South of the extended centerline of 06L.just beyond a line of trees.Looks like the pilots had a very lucky escape and it was obviously a great bit of flying.
As for recovery, i noticed a crane at the site on friday,so hopefully they can get her out of there and fix her up?
anyone know the extent of damage and what her chances of flying again are?
I've been flying out of Lanseria all this week and the wreckage is about 2 miles out and to the South of the extended centerline of 06L.just beyond a line of trees.Looks like the pilots had a very lucky escape and it was obviously a great bit of flying.
As for recovery, i noticed a crane at the site on friday,so hopefully they can get her out of there and fix her up?
anyone know the extent of damage and what her chances of flying again are?
Join Date: Jun 2001
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I saw and heard the DC3 as it turned out of Lanseria on to the left downwind 24. The the prop RPM increased and the aircraft started to backfire. It sounded very much like fuel starvation. The crew may have been lucky to escape without injury but the investigation will hopefully find out what happened even if they do keep it hushed.
