Piper Down in Johannesburg thunderstorm
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Piper Down in Johannesburg thunderstorm
Just heard via sms of an accident in severe thunderstorms over Johannesburg. Any firm news about this?
From News 24 site
Plane crashes into Jo'burg flats
18/12/2006 23:04 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The pilot of a light aircraft was killed when he flew into a block of flats in Yeoville in central Johannesburg in a storm on Monday night, said Johannesburg emergency services.
Divisional commander Malcolm Midgley said from the scene that the plane - believed to be a Piper Cherokee 140 - crashed into the basement of the four-storey building at the corner of Harley and Hendon streets at about 21:00 during a heavy thunderstorm.
Midgley said the pilot, who was believed to be the only person in the plane, was killed on impact.
Nobody on the ground was injured although the occupant of the flat which was hit was shaken.
"You can imagine an aeroplane landing in your bedroom..." said Midgley.
Building blocked off
Emergency services rushed to the scene and blocked off the building from crowds of curious onlookers.
Chief superintendent Wayne Minnaar of the Johannesburg Metro Police said at the scene that the plane was believed to have come from the south of Johannesburg, over the water tower in the Yeoville area before crashing.
Police suspect the heavy storm caused the crash.
Residents were asleep in the building when the plane crashed into it.
"I was sleeping and I heard the crash," said one resident, a man who did not want to be named.
Lanseria
It is not yet known where the plane was coming from or going to, but Midgley said it appeared to be on course for the Lanseria International Airport area in northern Johannesburg.
Officials at Lanseria would not comment.
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) accident investigator Frank Masoga said he was driving through heavy rain to get to the scene on Monday night.
CAA spokesperson Phindiwe Gwebu said the aircraft was reported to the CAA to have been a helicopter, registration ELU.
"The cause of the accident is still unknown, but bad weather is suspected to have contributed to the accident."
Sergeant Sanku Tsunke said from the scene that witnesses said it had been raining heavily when the aircraft crashed.
From News 24 site
Plane crashes into Jo'burg flats
18/12/2006 23:04 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The pilot of a light aircraft was killed when he flew into a block of flats in Yeoville in central Johannesburg in a storm on Monday night, said Johannesburg emergency services.
Divisional commander Malcolm Midgley said from the scene that the plane - believed to be a Piper Cherokee 140 - crashed into the basement of the four-storey building at the corner of Harley and Hendon streets at about 21:00 during a heavy thunderstorm.
Midgley said the pilot, who was believed to be the only person in the plane, was killed on impact.
Nobody on the ground was injured although the occupant of the flat which was hit was shaken.
"You can imagine an aeroplane landing in your bedroom..." said Midgley.
Building blocked off
Emergency services rushed to the scene and blocked off the building from crowds of curious onlookers.
Chief superintendent Wayne Minnaar of the Johannesburg Metro Police said at the scene that the plane was believed to have come from the south of Johannesburg, over the water tower in the Yeoville area before crashing.
Police suspect the heavy storm caused the crash.
Residents were asleep in the building when the plane crashed into it.
"I was sleeping and I heard the crash," said one resident, a man who did not want to be named.
Lanseria
It is not yet known where the plane was coming from or going to, but Midgley said it appeared to be on course for the Lanseria International Airport area in northern Johannesburg.
Officials at Lanseria would not comment.
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) accident investigator Frank Masoga said he was driving through heavy rain to get to the scene on Monday night.
CAA spokesperson Phindiwe Gwebu said the aircraft was reported to the CAA to have been a helicopter, registration ELU.
"The cause of the accident is still unknown, but bad weather is suspected to have contributed to the accident."
Sergeant Sanku Tsunke said from the scene that witnesses said it had been raining heavily when the aircraft crashed.
Last edited by African; 18th Dec 2006 at 21:01. Reason: Latest info found on news 24
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Piper PA28/140
Another sad day, and condolences to all involved, the aircraft was ZS - ELU a Piper PA28/140 based at Rand Airport.
It just seems that no matter how much this topic gets thrashed out, every summer we see the same senario, bad weather accidents.
Please take care out there, and remember the old saying "Better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air, than in the air wishing you were on the ground.
Thunderstorms Eat Aeroplanes
It just seems that no matter how much this topic gets thrashed out, every summer we see the same senario, bad weather accidents.
Please take care out there, and remember the old saying "Better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air, than in the air wishing you were on the ground.
Thunderstorms Eat Aeroplanes
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Love the info gained form the CAA so far -
1. It was a helicopter....despite the police ID'ing it as a 140.
2. It was raining...where the inspector was driving.
Sad news though - I feel for the family.
1. It was a helicopter....despite the police ID'ing it as a 140.
2. It was raining...where the inspector was driving.
Sad news though - I feel for the family.
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Our Tax Rands at work.
Three cheers for the new improved SACAA.
The constant increases in fees seem to be getting well spent on CA inspectors who can also double as weathermen (or should that be the PC weatherpersons??) whilst en-route to investigate an accident.
Condolences to the families involved in this sad event.
The constant increases in fees seem to be getting well spent on CA inspectors who can also double as weathermen (or should that be the PC weatherpersons??)
whilst en-route to investigate an accident. Condolences to the families involved in this sad event.
