PPRuNe Forums - SA CAA calibration aircraft crash near George

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SA CAA calibration aircraft crash near George

https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...eorge-20200123

Quote:

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has lost contact with its flight inspection unit aircraft that took off from George Airport in the Southern Cape earlier on Thursday.

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/sou...s-near-george/

Quote:

Wreckage was found on Thursday in the hunt for a SA Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) plane with three people aboard which disappeared in the southern Cape.

A photograph sent to TimesLIVE by an aviation source appeared to show the tail of the Cessna Citation, with the registration mark ZS-CAR.

Speculation: There is high ground in the area, and clouds over the mountains at the time.

Apparently a Citation.

Why were they flying below the MSA in bad weather near known mountains - or was this an aircraft failure e.g. break up in flight?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Propellor Head (Post 10669512)

Why were they flying below the MSA in bad weather near known mountains - or was this an aircraft failure e.g. break up in flight?

We don't know the cause yet, but the area has mountains very close to the north side of the airport (open ocean to the south), and persistent clouds at this time of year. I assume that it had adequate inertial navigation and GPS, and was IMC rated. ILS calibration is vital to the ongoing operation of a commercial airport.