Crash at Virginia

[tyrant]

Six survive Durban plane crash
21/08/2005 15:51


Durban - All six occupants on an aircraft that crashed into a house in Durban North on Sunday morning were taken to the nearby Umhlanga Rocks hospital.
eThekwini municipality's Nelson Pillay said the pilot was in a serious condition after he and a passenger were trapped in the light aircraft which nose-dived into the roof of a house, causing damage to the lounge and dining room.

Police spokesperson Gugu Sabela said the passengers included an Austrian family who were on holiday on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast when they decided to take an aerial tour of the Durban area.

Sabela said the plane was due to land at the nearby Virginia airport when it crashed into the roof of a house in Danville Road.

"Luckily there was no one in the house because the owner decided to take his wife for breakfast.

"To minimise the risk of fire, foam was sprayed over the house."

Sabela said civil aviation officials from Pretoria were on their way to the crash site to investigate the incident.

"The owner of the house is in shock. He and his wife are not talking to anyone right now.

"It's also very busy here with neighbours and emergency workers all over the place," said Sabela.

News24/SAPA

Amazing they are all ok. The wierd thing is, the crash happened in Danville Ave. which is almost directly behind the airport. It is not on final app or anything like that. Also that area should have no tfc flying overhead as the cct's and all routings are conducted seawards until at least the umhlanga river. I hear it was raining this morning in Durban, contributing factor maybe?? Still awesome news all survived. Anyone know the reg and type??

JB

[pilotpower]

FYI

1. ZS-PCJ an Islander.

2. Danville Road is NOT behind the airport. It was a southly wind blowing in DBN , thus RNY 05 would have been in use. Possibly it lost it left engine and yaw'd to the left. and thus would have found Danville Rd. infront of them.

[tyrant]

FYI ppower

1. If it was a southerly wind in use in DBN, then why "thus RNY 05 would have been in use" ATC101 and aerodynamics101 state otherwise. Not saying though that 05 was not in use. I heard the same thing subsequently.

2. I've lived 2km from Virginia for 27 years. you get rwy 23/05, then the m4, then kentucky drive, then Danville AVE. I did however say ALMOST behind Virginia, the south end of danville AVE is ALMOST directly behind the tower. Sure the upper end of danville lies slightly north of the threshold rwy23.

An islander can hardly find forward speed with two donkeys so a one out with 6 up on departure cant have a happy ending.

I spoke to this aircraft on area a couple of days ago going from pongola to mazangwenya (forgive the spelling) Looks like the clients were having a great safari. Not the kind of end to a holiday you would want. Best wishes and speedy recoveries to all involved.

JB

[Ossewa]

Come-on Tyrant, an Islander isn't that bad! Yes she's not a speed machine, but for the correct job it's a GREAT aircraft!

Any case, does anyone perhaps know where this particular one originated from? According to my knowledge there where only 2 Islanders in a flying condition left in SA about year ago. I sough another Islander getting resprayed and getting ZS reg. at FALA a couple of months ago, is this one perhaps the one that I sough at FALA?

Wish a speedy recovery to all.

[tyrant]

OK Ossewa i'm sorry for dissing the winged donkey :E

I'm guessing itshighveld based. Funny enough i noticed another one flying around the other day in the northern cape, perhaps the one you're talking about O. It was ZSNAT.

JB

[Ossewa]

Well Tyrant you need a donkey to pull an Ossewa or in the Islander's case two donkeys. :O

Looks like the Islanders are taking to the SA skies more and more. Atleast jumping out of a Helo into an Islander isn't very difficult; I can almost do a hover landing with the Islander with that slow approach speed of her's! :ok:

Take care.

[pilotpower]

tyrant , ZANAT is a turbine Islander.... owner last I knew , but a Lady called Natasha , (she also has V5-Nat , and you might have seen her on Discovery flying her Lions around in it (c-206))

Any way word is from the FAVG tower , that they asked the pilot if everything was OK, and hethen reported engine problems... and "he was over the fence before he decided to go around.... "

Later.

[Jangys]

____________________________________________________
An islander can hardly find forward speed with two donkeys so a one out with 6 up on departure cant have a happy ending.
____________________________________________________


An ATC trying to say his say on pprune, thought they have their say everyday on FREQ. Please stay behind the mic and leave the flying to us.....

[tyrant]

Thanks for that info PP, didn't know there was a turbine islander in the country. I consider myself now educated :ok:

Jangys, sort out your issues mate, merely statements made in jest. I guess you are pilot, i'm sorry, i didn't know i was on holy ground.:oh:

[126,7]

I'm sure that it says somewhere in the rules and regs of PPRUNE that ATCs are not supposed to make comments on aircraft performance and other aviation related topics....
You were kidding right Jangys?

[PurePax]

From:
http://iafrica.com/news/sa/474822.htm


CAA to inspect plane crash scene

Mon, 22 Aug 2005

Civil aviation authorities are on Monday investigating Sunday's plane crash in Durban North where a light aircraft carrying five Austrian tourists and a pilot nose-dived into the roof of a house.

The general manager of the nearby Virginia airport, Glen Bryce, said: "Our tower gave the pilot clearance to land but then he did a go-around."

He said the police and airport officials were clearing the scene of the crash.

Civil aviation authorities would remove the plane and take it to the airport where they would inspect it for clues to the cause of the crash.

The pilot, Alistair Freeman, suffered a broken leg, lacerations and bruising. He was in a stable condition in the St Augustine's hospital in Durban.

"He's lucky to be alive," the hospital's client relations department said on Monday.

The Austrian family, who were due to fly to Cape Town on Monday, were waiting to hear when three of their members would be discharged from the Umhlanga hospital.

Their doctor, Niresh Bechan, said the husband, only known as G Huber, was in a lot of pain. "He has been moved from the high care unit to the surgical ward after suffering cuts, bruises and lacerations," said Bechan.

He said the wife and daughter (12), were treated in the casualty ward on Sunday and then discharged, while their son, 10, was in the paediatric ward with lacerations.

Bechan said the wife's sister underwent surgery for a dislocated shoulder on Sunday.

"The family is stable but still in shock" said Bechan.

On Sunday police said the owner of the house, 72-year-old Alwyn Field, a widower, had been at a bowling club when the aircraft crashed into his lounge and dining room.

"His neighbours phoned to tell him what happened but he thought they were joking until he decided to return home to check," said Captain Gugu Sabela.

Sapa

[pilotpower]

See this was posted under a "new forum".... some one must be a little short sighted. Any how this is then a repeat, but where it belongs.
:*

CAA to inspect plane crash scene

Mon, 22 Aug 2005

Civil aviation authorities are on Monday investigating Sunday's plane crash in Durban North where a light aircraft carrying five Austrian tourists and a pilot nose-dived into the roof of a house.

The general manager of the nearby Virginia airport, Glen Bryce, said: "Our tower gave the pilot clearance to land but then he did a go-around."

He said the police and airport officials were clearing the scene of the crash.

Civil aviation authorities would remove the plane and take it to the airport where they would inspect it for clues to the cause of the crash.

The pilot, Alistair Freeman, suffered a broken leg, lacerations and bruising. He was in a stable condition in the St Augustine's hospital in Durban.

"He's lucky to be alive," the hospital's client relations department said on Monday.

The Austrian family, who were due to fly to Cape Town on Monday, were waiting to hear when three of their members would be discharged from the Umhlanga hospital.

Their doctor, Niresh Bechan, said the husband, only known as G Huber, was in a lot of pain. "He has been moved from the high care unit to the surgical ward after suffering cuts, bruises and lacerations," said Bechan.

He said the wife and daughter (12), were treated in the casualty ward on Sunday and then discharged, while their son, 10, was in the paediatric ward with lacerations.

Bechan said the wife's sister underwent surgery for a dislocated shoulder on Sunday.

"The family is stable but still in shock" said Bechan.

On Sunday police said the owner of the house, 72-year-old Alwyn Field, a widower, had been at a bowling club when the aircraft crashed into his lounge and dining room.

"His neighbours phoned to tell him what happened but he thought they were joking until he decided to return home to check," said Captain Gugu Sabela.

[beechbum]

Jangys,thought your comments uncalled for, Tyrant has his opinion. Can we just leave the forum as to what its designed for and not a slanging match? Man so unnecessary!!!!!!!!:ok:
Anway hope all recover soon!!

[Exhaust Manifold]

Now now guys, both are entitled to their opinions. Lets not turn this into a match between pilots and ATC's as we all know the pilots will come out on top (FL330 to be exact) :E sounded like tyrant's comment was made in jest, so lets leave it be.

Anyway this islander is frequently around plet, not sure exactly where it's based though. :ok:

[Sir Cumference]

Just had a look at the wreck! Lucky people! The left engine is unfeathered and shows no sign of rotational impact, whereas the right prop does. As can be seen from the pictures, the flaps were full down. Not a very good configuration for a go-around!

I also hear that the aircraft was at the fence when the go around was initiated. Why? The point being that the ATC must have got a really close view of an Islander staggering past!!

[The Claw]

http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/1308/whoputthatthere226iy.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


(Received this pic, via e-mail.... Hope "unknown" photographer doesn't mind my posting, if so I'll remove.)

[Gunship]

A six-seater aircraft that crashed into a pensioner's house at the weekend caused more havoc as it was being transported to Virginia Airport.

The plane, a Britten-Norman Islander, became temporarily stuck under the M4 bridge to Virginia Airport in Hinton Road, Durban, on Tuesday. It was being towed to the airport so that civil aviation authorities could continue their investigations as to why the plane crashed into pensioner Alwyn Field's home in Danville Avenue.

Metro police officers were at the scene to escort the tow truck and to assist with traffic.


He told his unexpected visitors: 'I'm sorry I wasn't home when you called.'
The passengers - the Huber family from western Austria - and the pilot Alistair Freeman, 38, were lucky to survive.

Daryl Mann, chief engineer of the recovery operation, said all the necessary tests will be carried out to try and find out the cause of the crash.

Asked about the cause of the accident, a Civil Aviation Authority investigator said that it would take about five to eight months to complete the investigation.

Freeman had to be cut from the wreck and it took rescuers 90 minutes to free him. He was admitted to St Augustine's Hospital with a broken leg. He had been ferrying the family from Sibaya Lake near Sodwana to Virginia Airport. They were seconds away from landing when the plane went down.

Field, 72, was at a nearby bowling club at the time of the crash.

Gerald Huber is in Umhlanga Hospital with a dislocated leg, and cuts and abrasions to his face. The family is due to fly home on Friday, but hospital staff say it is unlikely as Huber would still be in hospital.

Huber's wife, Monika, and his 12-year-old daughter Felicitas, are wearing neck braces and Monika has a bandage on her eyes.

Monika's sister, Alexandre, and 10-year-old son, Adam, were also treated at hospital.

Field - now being nicknamed "Air-Field" by his neighbours - told his unexpected visitors: "I'm sorry I wasn't home when you called."

Huber's wife, the only one in the family who can speak English, apologised for hitting his home.

As fire officers pumped out fuel from the plane on Monday, an independent insurance expert called in by Field's insurers assessed the damage.

Field's daughter, Beverley van der Westhuizen, said her dad was "very upset as his case of whisky has gone".

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20050823131445174C304621

[Sir Cumference]

Today's Durban paper, The Mercury is reporting that Mr Huber is actually CEO of an Austrian Helicopter company.

[tyrant]

Spoke to my folks last night, apparently due to a small calulation error (or lack of) the aircraft in the process of being transported back the airport got stuck under the M4 bridge due to height issues. :E oooops

[Balmy]

It would be nice to hear the answers to some questions....like why the overshoot...from all accounts he was on short short and if he had the power to get to where he got to why not just land. From the photos it looks like it stalled in and probably from low....which may account for the fact that they all (sort of) walked away from it.

[Jangys]

Sorry Guys, only kidding. Was a ATC in my time.....decided to go to greener pastures.....

[Beeech19]

They so lucky it did not catch fire....

jj

[policepilot]

Just to recap Balmy's earlier question,, any updates? I've got far too many hours on BN's, so just keen to hear any news. I see from some of the pics that flaps are set to full, or is that post prang? Also if the engine was failing, why a go-around from such a low altitude.
I wasn't taught it in SA, but over here??? there is such a thing as asymetrical commital height, ie: below that you ARE going to land if you're a twin but flying on one engine.(low powered twins that is)
Otherwise, speedy recovery to all concerned and not too many letters to the CAA.

[whodunnit2]

Is there any truth in the rumour that one of the aircrafts owners is a rather infamous M. vd M of Flightline & Fleetline fame?

You may remember Flightline as being the company involved in the overloaded Chieftain crash out of FAGM a few years back that killed 10 young people on their way to Namibia. A long drawn out courtcase ensued. Anyone know what the outcome was?

I remember reading an article in one of the Afrikaans newspapers about this fellows exploits. The list of crashed aircraft that he was linked to just went on and on and on.

If he is involved with the Islander, I ask you, how do these blokes get way with this stuff? Is he just really unlucky that tragedy follows his every move? I THINK NOT.

[PA30 Driver]

I discussed this accident with the Engineers who assessed the house for the insurers. These guys had luck on their side once the error chain was out of control. The roof trusses of the house were longitudnal to the wings on impact. The a/c nose just missed a structural wall on entry through the roof space and came to rest just short of the adjacent structural wall on the opposite side of the room at the end of the crash sequence. This can all be seen in the photo posted by the Claw. Any slight change in the impact orientation and there would have been a very different outcome.

For those like myself who fly relatively low power light twins the lesson here is regular assymetric practice and know when you are committed to land. Late, dirty assymetric go arounds at or close to gross will not work. Does anyone know how this aircraft was loaded? The reports are six pax plus pilot and it had flown at least an hour since last refuelling. The islander is certified for ten occupants so it does not sound like it was at gross wt and you don't get closer to sea level than Virginia so S/E performance should have been acceptable

[alwaysinverted]

Whodunnit2, you're absolutely right. This is a M vd M special import. Times, condition & CofA are suspect, for sure!

Rumours aplenty that the reason why the aircraft did not burn is the fact that on the inbound leg, the one engine failed to to lack of "carburant". Pilot then feathers the engine. Pilot does not know tooo much about crossfeed, and concentrates on flying da machine. Pilot then screws up approach, applies full power to live engine, and due to his inability to control the aircraft, the aircraft rolls on its back and goes inverted, where it crashes nose down into mr. Field's house. It does'nt burn, coz the fuel "he is exhausted".

Its a shame, coz the BN is a really tough old bird. Flew one in Lesotho for plenty of hours many years ago, and never had a problem.

It will be interesting to see what the CAA finds!

[MysticFlyer]

Where's this schwein now, but then again, that's an insult....?

Terrible track record, he should be forced to fly with...everytime! Yes, if pigs could fly...

Any latest juicy bits...bacon or crackling of course?!