SA Airlink J41 crash
 

Airlink J41 has just crashed shortly after takeoff off 06 at Durban International. Airframe last reported as intact...

OK Some more info... Inbound Comair flight has reported the airframe somewhat intact near Mondi Paper. *apparently* an engine failure on take off. The SAX flight lined up behind them tried to warn them of excessive smoke coming from their engines on the take off run, but an ATC transmission interrupted their warning and they don't believe the Link crew heard the warning. *apparently*

Ok its starting to come out on the wires...

Plane crashes into Durban school: News24: SouthAfrica: News

The paramedics are trying to rescue the pilots. They are trapped in the airplane..

Only 2 crew on board as aircraft was on a positioning flight from Durban Intl to Pietermartizburg.

Good luck Chap's. Holding thumbs for all involved.

Local news is reporting 4. No Hosty on board?

I truly hope all are OK. A sad time indeed. I have a good friend who is a capt on the DBN pool.

If anybody has details, please pvt me

Just heard from back in SA, aircraft is in two. 3 Crew on board. Airlifted to hospital.

Hope you all walk away to fly another day. All the ex link guys in the gulf are pulling for you all.

The aircraft seemed to 'make' a school field. Plus/minus 1 mile from the end of 06 and about 40 degrees to the right of centerline. It seems that the crew went for the field and if that's the case they did a FANTASTIC job putting the plane down where they did. Judging from the point of impact and skidmarks. We saw the crash site from the air and it was pretty much the only flat open ground in a built up area.

Wish all involved a speedy recovery.

I hope these guys are ALPA-SA members. They are going to need the support the organisation offers.

You guys think they lost both? I assumed that a Jetstream could fly on one, especially one without pax.

ALPA-SA has a Critical Incident Resonse Programme (CIRP) to deal with these unfortunate situations.

The majority of aircraft accidents stem from poor management decisions at some point in the chain....

Perhaps they shut down the wrong engine? Did they retract the gear?

Here is a link to some pics. Plane crashes into school 24-09-09

JSP.

Photos on News24.com indicate that number one engine was shut down with the prop feathered and number two was still rotating but at idle / low power at touchdown. Landing gear was retracted.

Ndebele sends recovery wishes: News24: SouthAfrica: News

Spoke to a mate on the scene. Crash site 1.5 DME from DNV, from initial impact to stop was about 200 metres, J41 came to a stop about 80 metres before school buildings. Apparently crew did an unbelievable job of putting the J41 down in such a small area, missing houses by less than 10 metres and making the field. One person with moderate injuries on the ground (taken by ambulance), one hosty with moderate injuries (taken by helicopter), one female co-pilot with moderate injuries (taken by helicopter) and one male captain with severe injuries (taken by helicopter). Crew were entrapped in cockpit for at least 2 hours before wreckage could be cleared. Left props appeared to be feathered before impact, right props bent and twisted indicating power on during impact. Airframe broken in 3 places but still joined.

Holding the right thoughts for all involved. These things seem to affect not just those in the aircraft at the time but all pilots, especially those in Link.

First, thankfully no-one was killed in this accident and hope that all make a speedy recovery. I suggest the first thing they do is get lawyers.

Questions, how is it that an empty aircraft cannot continue climb with one engine operating at sea level.

Maybe now the CAA will take a good long hard and forensic audit of all aspects of that Airlink operation and have the likes on JVJ and RF on public display to answer for themselves.:mad:

Not so sure on that 1.

Not to speculate, but man this pic tells a thousand words.

Ndebele sends recovery wishes: News24: SouthAfrica: News

That looks to me as if the blades on number 1 didn't go to feather. J41's as with all TPE engines have the NTS (Neg torque Sensing) and in the case of a J41 auto feather.

Looks like they were dragging an unfeatheredable engine. A totally amazing feat of flying and airmanship to get it on the ground in 1 piece and in the only open spot.

Sad news. Speedy recovery to all involved!

J41 Crash
 

Does anyone now the pilot name?

From avcom

Captain : Allister Freeman
Co-pilot : Sonja Bierman
Hostie : Rudele Oosthuizen.