Chopper Down in Lesotho Mountains
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From: South Africa
Chopper Down in Lesotho Mountains
Bad News
Lets be holding thumbs for them 
Maseru - Two people were missing after a helicopter crashed in Lesotho's Maluti mountains on Tuesday.
The helicopter was carrying two German television journalists, a Lesotho Highlands Water Project official and the pilot.
The journalists swam to safety across the Khatse Dam, the pilot and official were still missing at noon on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority said the journalists were on their way to make a film of the water project.
The pilot and an official of the water project were reported at noon as having tried to swim to safety. However, their fate was unknown.
The German journalists were flown to a Bloemfontein hospital.
The helicopter was carrying two German television journalists, a Lesotho Highlands Water Project official and the pilot.
The journalists swam to safety across the Khatse Dam, the pilot and official were still missing at noon on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority said the journalists were on their way to make a film of the water project.
The pilot and an official of the water project were reported at noon as having tried to swim to safety. However, their fate was unknown.
The German journalists were flown to a Bloemfontein hospital.
GunsssR4ever
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From: Out there somewhere ...
Search Suspended
The search for two men, who are missing after their helicopter crashed into Lesotho's Katse Dam on Tuesday morning, was suspended at nightfall. Late on Tuesday, officials were still describing their efforts as a "search and rescue" operation rather than a recovery operation.
However, it is feared that the pilot and a senior official of the Lesotho Highlands Development Agency (LHDA) went down with the helicopter when it hit the water between 09:00 and 10:00.
The Katse Dam is the deepest in southern Africa and the wreckage of the Lesotho Defence Force helicopter is lying under 98m metres of water, around 50m from the side of the dam near Bokong.
Three survivors, all members a German film crew, were in a stable condition by Tuesday evening in a Bloemfontein hospital after receiving treatment.
They had managed to swim out of the wreckage to safety, said George van der Merwe, a spokesperson for the LHDA.
Van der Merwe said the search operation was severely hampered by the depth of the water and sheer cliffs surrounding the dam.
South African police divers flown to Katse to assist in the operation and were expected to arrive soon, Van der Merwe said on Tuesday evening.
Senior military personnel from the Lesotho Defence Force and officials from both the LHDA and the Lesotho Highlands Water Commission were also flown to Katse to help.
Van der Merwe said that when the helicopter crashed, it very nearly crashed into a boat whose crew were taking water samples from the dam.
The survivors were rescued by the crew of the boat.
They were stabilised at the Katse Clinic, from where they were flown to Bloemfontein by Ambulance Air Africa.
The Germans had completed filming over the Katse Dam and were on their way to the Mohale Dam when the accident happened.
Van der Merwe said it was unclear what caused the helicopter to lose altitude. According to eyewitnesses it was flying low over the water.
Refiloe Tlali, the acting chief executive of the LHDA, said the accident was a major setback for the organisation.
The missing official was a member of its executive management.
The missing men's names could not be released because their next-of-kin had not yet been informed.
GunsssR4ever
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From: Out there somewhere ...
Search continues ...
The search for two men, missing after their helicopter crashed into Lesotho's Katse Dam on Tuesday morning, was resumed on Wednesday.
It is feared the pilot and a senior official of the Lesotho Highlands Development Agency went down with the helicopter when it hit the water between 09:00 and 10:00.
The Katse Dam is the deepest in southern Africa and the wreckage of the Lesotho defence force helicopter is lying under 98m of water, about 50m from the side of the dam near Bokong.
George van der Merwe, spokesman for the South African project authority for the Lesotho highlands water project, said the chances of their having swum to safety and being out of contact were "very slim".
Names will be released later on Wednesday. The men's families have not yet been informed.
Three survivors, all members a German film crew, were in a stable condition in a Bloemfontein hospital.
They swam out of the wreckage to safety, said Van der Merwe.
Quoting hospital sources on Tuesday night, SABC radio news named the survivors as Jan du Toit and Herman Botha, both South Africans, and Dominique van Eisenhart, a German citizen.
Nearly hit a boat and crew
Van der Merwe said the search was severely hampered by the depth of the water and sheer cliffs surrounding the dam.
South African police divers left Bloemfontein's Bloemspruit air force base at 08:00 on Wednesday. They are trained to reach depths of 100m.
Senior military personnel from the Lesotho defence force and officials from both the LHDA and the Lesotho Highlands Water Commission were also flown to Katse.
Van der Merwe said that when the helicopter crashed, it nearly struck a boat whose crew was taking water samples from the dam.
The survivors were rescued by the boat crew.
They were stabilised at the Katse Clinic, from where they were flown to Bloemfontein by Ambulance Air Africa.
The trio had completed filming above the Katse Dam and were on their way to the Mohale Dam when the accident happened.
Van der Merwe said it was unclear what caused the helicopter to lose altitude. According to witnesses it was flying low over the water.
Refiloe Tlali, acting chief executive of the LHDA, said the accident was a major setback for the organisation.
The missing official was a member of its executive management.
It is feared the pilot and a senior official of the Lesotho Highlands Development Agency went down with the helicopter when it hit the water between 09:00 and 10:00.
The Katse Dam is the deepest in southern Africa and the wreckage of the Lesotho defence force helicopter is lying under 98m of water, about 50m from the side of the dam near Bokong.
George van der Merwe, spokesman for the South African project authority for the Lesotho highlands water project, said the chances of their having swum to safety and being out of contact were "very slim".
Names will be released later on Wednesday. The men's families have not yet been informed.
Three survivors, all members a German film crew, were in a stable condition in a Bloemfontein hospital.
They swam out of the wreckage to safety, said Van der Merwe.
Quoting hospital sources on Tuesday night, SABC radio news named the survivors as Jan du Toit and Herman Botha, both South Africans, and Dominique van Eisenhart, a German citizen.
Nearly hit a boat and crew
Van der Merwe said the search was severely hampered by the depth of the water and sheer cliffs surrounding the dam.
South African police divers left Bloemfontein's Bloemspruit air force base at 08:00 on Wednesday. They are trained to reach depths of 100m.
Senior military personnel from the Lesotho defence force and officials from both the LHDA and the Lesotho Highlands Water Commission were also flown to Katse.
Van der Merwe said that when the helicopter crashed, it nearly struck a boat whose crew was taking water samples from the dam.
The survivors were rescued by the boat crew.
They were stabilised at the Katse Clinic, from where they were flown to Bloemfontein by Ambulance Air Africa.
The trio had completed filming above the Katse Dam and were on their way to the Mohale Dam when the accident happened.
Van der Merwe said it was unclear what caused the helicopter to lose altitude. According to witnesses it was flying low over the water.
Refiloe Tlali, acting chief executive of the LHDA, said the accident was a major setback for the organisation.
The missing official was a member of its executive management.
GunsssR4ever
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From: Out there somewhere ...
Latest News ...
Crashed Lesotho helicopter pilot's body found
May 21 2003 at 10:10AM
The body of the pilot of a helicopter that crashed in Lesotho's Katse Dam on Tuesday morning has been found.
The pilot and a senior official of the Lesotho Highlands Development Agency (LHDA) went down with the aircraft when it hit the water. The official's body is still missing.
Three survivors, all members of a German film crew, were in a stable condition in a Bloemfontein hospital on Tuesday night.
They had managed to swim from the wreckage and were rescued by crew on a boat, said the LHDA's George van der Merwe.
The search is hampered by the depth of the water and cliffs surrounding the dam
The wreckage of the Lesotho Defence Force helicopter is lying under 98m of water, around 50m from the side of the dam near Bokong.
SABC radio news named the survivors as Jan du Toit and Herman Botha, both South Africans, and Dominique van Eisenhart, a German citizen.
A search was severely hampered by the depth of the water and cliffs surrounding the dam. - Sapa
May 21 2003 at 10:10AM
The body of the pilot of a helicopter that crashed in Lesotho's Katse Dam on Tuesday morning has been found.
The pilot and a senior official of the Lesotho Highlands Development Agency (LHDA) went down with the aircraft when it hit the water. The official's body is still missing.
Three survivors, all members of a German film crew, were in a stable condition in a Bloemfontein hospital on Tuesday night.
They had managed to swim from the wreckage and were rescued by crew on a boat, said the LHDA's George van der Merwe.
The search is hampered by the depth of the water and cliffs surrounding the dam
The wreckage of the Lesotho Defence Force helicopter is lying under 98m of water, around 50m from the side of the dam near Bokong.
SABC radio news named the survivors as Jan du Toit and Herman Botha, both South Africans, and Dominique van Eisenhart, a German citizen.
A search was severely hampered by the depth of the water and cliffs surrounding the dam. - Sapa
GunsssR4ever
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From: Out there somewhere ...
Do you know what helicopter type it was ?
Hope Double Dave is not envolved
GunsssR4ever
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From: Out there somewhere ...
" The Pilot was Flying too low " Survivor said ..
A survivor of the helicopter crash at Lesotho's Katse Dam on Tuesday remembers the missing pilot's parka jacket floating on the water.
Jan du Toit, a freelance cameraman from Pretoria, was talking from his hospital bed in the Bloemfontein Medi-Clinic, where he and two other survivors were flown on Tuesday.
The cameraman, sound engineer Herman Botha from Kempton Park, and German journalist Dominik von Eisenhart-Rohte escaped from the sinking helicopter, swimming to safety.
The search by divers for the missing pilot and a fifth person, a senior official from the Lesotho Highlands Development Agency, resumed on Wednesday morning.
Du Toit said the three survivors were working on a documentary about the world's large dam projects and were contracted by German television Deutsche Welle.
They arrived in Lesotho's capital, Maseru, the night before the accident.
He said that while they were in the air he asked the pilot, from the Lesotho Air Force, to fly about 30m above the water, trying to capture on film the narrowness of the gorge in which the dam lay.
Bleeding from a head wound
He believes the pilot was flying too low. Du Toit was sitting strapped into the seat next to the pilot, looking through his camera lens when the helicopter hit the water.
He could not remember how he escaped, only recalling how he swam to the surface.
He saw the helicopter floating just below the surface for about two minutes before it disappeared.
"Dominik (Von Eisenhart-Rohte) saw who she presumably was the unconscious pilot in the water for a short while. He was bleeding from a wound on the head."
Du Toit said it was only an act of providence that a boat was nearby and picked them up out of the freezing water.
"The boat launches on the dam only one day a month to collect water samples," he said.
However, the boat crew did not immediately notice the three, starting to stiffen from the cold and holding on to floating baggage from the sunken helicopter.
"Herrie (Botha) had to shout quite hard to get their attention."
They were picked up after paddling for about 15 minutes in the water.
Du Toit said he doubted whether a mechanical failure caused the accident. The helicopter, of German origin and belonging to the Lesotho defence force, was only two years old.
Du Toit had only minor injuries from the crash.
Botha underwent shoulder surgery on Wednesday in the Medi-Clinic, and Eisenhart-Rohte had a knee operation, according to the hospital.
Jan du Toit, a freelance cameraman from Pretoria, was talking from his hospital bed in the Bloemfontein Medi-Clinic, where he and two other survivors were flown on Tuesday.
The cameraman, sound engineer Herman Botha from Kempton Park, and German journalist Dominik von Eisenhart-Rohte escaped from the sinking helicopter, swimming to safety.
The search by divers for the missing pilot and a fifth person, a senior official from the Lesotho Highlands Development Agency, resumed on Wednesday morning.
Du Toit said the three survivors were working on a documentary about the world's large dam projects and were contracted by German television Deutsche Welle.
They arrived in Lesotho's capital, Maseru, the night before the accident.
He said that while they were in the air he asked the pilot, from the Lesotho Air Force, to fly about 30m above the water, trying to capture on film the narrowness of the gorge in which the dam lay.
Bleeding from a head wound
He believes the pilot was flying too low. Du Toit was sitting strapped into the seat next to the pilot, looking through his camera lens when the helicopter hit the water.
He could not remember how he escaped, only recalling how he swam to the surface.
He saw the helicopter floating just below the surface for about two minutes before it disappeared.
"Dominik (Von Eisenhart-Rohte) saw who she presumably was the unconscious pilot in the water for a short while. He was bleeding from a wound on the head."
Du Toit said it was only an act of providence that a boat was nearby and picked them up out of the freezing water.
"The boat launches on the dam only one day a month to collect water samples," he said.
However, the boat crew did not immediately notice the three, starting to stiffen from the cold and holding on to floating baggage from the sunken helicopter.
"Herrie (Botha) had to shout quite hard to get their attention."
They were picked up after paddling for about 15 minutes in the water.
Du Toit said he doubted whether a mechanical failure caused the accident. The helicopter, of German origin and belonging to the Lesotho defence force, was only two years old.
Du Toit had only minor injuries from the crash.
Botha underwent shoulder surgery on Wednesday in the Medi-Clinic, and Eisenhart-Rohte had a knee operation, according to the hospital.
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: SA
Rumour has it that it was a MBB 105.
The water in the dam was like glass.
The pilot flew low over the water, got blured vision from the mirror effect, went toooo low, and the rest is history.
The pilot was a citizen of Lesotho, and a member of the Lesotho Defence Force. His helicopter flying experience has been described as "fair".
The water in the dam was like glass.
The pilot flew low over the water, got blured vision from the mirror effect, went toooo low, and the rest is history.
The pilot was a citizen of Lesotho, and a member of the Lesotho Defence Force. His helicopter flying experience has been described as "fair".
GunsssR4ever
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From: Out there somewhere ...
Sad News
I hate rumours and I hate to say " but I told you so " but I also prommogate "learn out of other's mistakes".
In the eraly 80's a good friend of a few of us on this forum flew over the Etosha Pans in a Squirrel.
He flew to low and was eventually "sucked" into this mirror - like "vertigo" feeling.
Nobody can describe it to you unless you have tried / done it yourself.
Myself and my partner here have "tried" it by flying over our "mirror - like sea" - yes it becomes like a mirror certain times of the year, and was it not for a Radio Alt that was set - we would have flown into the water.
Lessons learnt .. too late for some (if the rumour is correct- but I can assume that is what happened)
In the eraly 80's a good friend of a few of us on this forum flew over the Etosha Pans in a Squirrel.
He flew to low and was eventually "sucked" into this mirror - like "vertigo" feeling.
Nobody can describe it to you unless you have tried / done it yourself.
Myself and my partner here have "tried" it by flying over our "mirror - like sea" - yes it becomes like a mirror certain times of the year, and was it not for a Radio Alt that was set - we would have flown into the water.
Lessons learnt .. too late for some (if the rumour is correct- but I can assume that is what happened)
GunsssR4ever
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From: Out there somewhere ...
Ja so sad ..
Ou Trek Donkie (hou van jou naam swaer ... wat trek jou donkie behalwe draad 
)...
I can only assume clipboard was correct as the name has been withheld ...
NO racism / apartheid / sarcasm / whatever k@k intended but I pressume the pilot was "local".
Was it a white guy his reletaves would 99% be close by. Knowing Lesotho his parents / wife lives "somewhere" and we all know the bad comms in Lesotho.
A sad day for the Lesotho Airforce .. their first accident I think of this nature ... I think ? 4 HP you keep better "track".
Gary went down in a C212 .. but that was Ciskei was it ? Or was it Lesotho ? Eischh getting too old for this ...
)...I can only assume clipboard was correct as the name has been withheld ...
NO racism / apartheid / sarcasm / whatever k@k intended but I pressume the pilot was "local".
Was it a white guy his reletaves would 99% be close by. Knowing Lesotho his parents / wife lives "somewhere" and we all know the bad comms in Lesotho.
A sad day for the Lesotho Airforce .. their first accident I think of this nature ... I think ? 4 HP you keep better "track".
Gary went down in a C212 .. but that was Ciskei was it ? Or was it Lesotho ? Eischh getting too old for this ...
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From: Hilton, Sheraton or Marriott
Sorry Guns my memory & gen is limited. What I do know is it definitely is not their first prang; they've had a few, but with the conditions that they face there that's not surprising.
Still, I can't see them dishing out Mae Wests as a result of this unfortunate accident. I've never seen a 105 without a RadAlt; I'm sorry it didn't help.
Condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.
4HP
Still, I can't see them dishing out Mae Wests as a result of this unfortunate accident. I've never seen a 105 without a RadAlt; I'm sorry it didn't help.
Condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.
4HP
Tx 4HP
Gatvol
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From: KLAS/TIST/FAJS/KFAI
I always digress a bit when things pop into my otherwise clouded Brain..... When my friend Fred Viljoen was over here a couple years ago. We happened to stop by one of the local Hospitals to talk with the Medevac folks. They had a BK-117 yada, yada, yada .
Bottom line that BK had come from the Lesotho Air Force as surplus (Dam near Brand new) Seems they sucked in some sand with no filters and lunched the engines. The Company here in the states bought it (Cheap) and it was flying here in Las Vegas......
Has Nothing to do with this thread, I just ramble a bit to get off the sad subjects..
Bottom line that BK had come from the Lesotho Air Force as surplus (Dam near Brand new) Seems they sucked in some sand with no filters and lunched the engines. The Company here in the states bought it (Cheap) and it was flying here in Las Vegas......
Has Nothing to do with this thread, I just ramble a bit to get off the sad subjects..
GunsssR4ever
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From: Out there somewhere ...
Yeah C4 - you are right ... I remember landing at Nkosi Sekella Airport soon afterwards with a Citation and the guys showed towards a koppie where 'ol Hammos met his fate.
He was a great guy by the way ... had some good laughs (and LOTS Doppe ) with him.
I have searched everywhere my friend.
Now mailed a friend that is an engineer a the dam to get more clarity or a name for you.
Cheers and best regards,
Gunsss
He was a great guy by the way ... had some good laughs (and LOTS Doppe ) with him.
I have searched everywhere my friend.
Now mailed a friend that is an engineer a the dam to get more clarity or a name for you.
Cheers and best regards,
Gunsss
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In fact the LDF (Air Wing) has had a prang or two before. The starboard window of a Shed (Short Skyvan) “became detached in flight”, hit something and caused a bit of grief. I think it was in 1987 ??? No-one hurt apart from the usual ego damage.
Also one of the Bolkows pranged a couple years later when the pilot made a low fast run, hooked a skid in a tree, pulled up to have a bit of a think, lost a lot of fuel quickly and pranged with great style. The local paper said came out with the unforgettable headline “ Lt Thaane crashes helicopter and survives – the Nation rejoices !”
At least I think that’s what happened. Nice to see a country with the right attitude to pilots, ek se. They were very skilled in their role in those days, whizzing round the mountains.
Also one of the Bolkows pranged a couple years later when the pilot made a low fast run, hooked a skid in a tree, pulled up to have a bit of a think, lost a lot of fuel quickly and pranged with great style. The local paper said came out with the unforgettable headline “ Lt Thaane crashes helicopter and survives – the Nation rejoices !”
At least I think that’s what happened. Nice to see a country with the right attitude to pilots, ek se. They were very skilled in their role in those days, whizzing round the mountains.
GunsssR4ever
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From: Out there somewhere ...
Donkietril wat maak jy in Italia ? Uhmm back to the real world ... NOTHING but nothing more on this accident.
Not even the Bloemfontein "based" Volksblad has anything more to say.
My engineer pel was either the pilot or he is on leave again (something he does very regular).
So I pressume it was a BO 105 or maybe if you talk about Bolkolows maybe a BK ? The BO that hit the tree did it have those long skids on ?
Ou trek donkie ek maak net 'n grappie oor jou tril hoor
Not even the Bloemfontein "based" Volksblad has anything more to say.
My engineer pel was either the pilot or he is on leave again (something he does very regular).
So I pressume it was a BO 105 or maybe if you talk about Bolkolows maybe a BK ? The BO that hit the tree did it have those long skids on ?
Ou trek donkie ek maak net 'n grappie oor jou tril hoor
GunsssR4ever
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From: Out there somewhere ...
Searching Diver dies : Pilot named
A Bloemfontein-based police diver taking part in the search for the victims of a helicopter crash in Lesotho's Katse Dam was certified dead on arrival at the Bloemfontein Medi-Clinic on Friday afternoon, police said.
Inspector Michael Bradley, 35, was certified dead at 14:50 after being taken to the hospital by helicopter from Maseru where efforts to revive him had failed, Senior Superintendent Mary Martins-Engelbrecht told Sapa.
Bradley, a qualified diver, was based at the Bloemfontein dog unit as a rescue dog handler.
George van der Merwe, spokesperson for the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, said Bradley apparently stopped breathing at a depth of 30m.
A doctor at the Maseru Private Hospital, where the diver was flown from the dam, said he showed no signs of life upon arrival and did not respond to resuscitation efforts.
He was then flown to the Medi-Clinic in Bloemfontein.
Van der Merwe said police divers started searching the dam on Friday morning down to depths of 30m to 40m.
A team of four deep sea divers from Durban proceeded with combing the dark water with a camera at 60m, Van der Merwe said.
The divers are searching for a Lesotho Defence Force helicopter which crashed into the dam on Tuesday with five people on board.
The pilot, Lieutenant Lererileng Maloi, and passengers Sethunya Nthako, engineering manager of the Lesotho Highlands Development Agency, are still missing.
The three remaining passengers, a crew who was filming the dam for a German television station, escaped from the sinking helicopter and swam to safety.
RIP ...
Inspector Michael Bradley, 35, was certified dead at 14:50 after being taken to the hospital by helicopter from Maseru where efforts to revive him had failed, Senior Superintendent Mary Martins-Engelbrecht told Sapa.
Bradley, a qualified diver, was based at the Bloemfontein dog unit as a rescue dog handler.
George van der Merwe, spokesperson for the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, said Bradley apparently stopped breathing at a depth of 30m.
A doctor at the Maseru Private Hospital, where the diver was flown from the dam, said he showed no signs of life upon arrival and did not respond to resuscitation efforts.
He was then flown to the Medi-Clinic in Bloemfontein.
Van der Merwe said police divers started searching the dam on Friday morning down to depths of 30m to 40m.
A team of four deep sea divers from Durban proceeded with combing the dark water with a camera at 60m, Van der Merwe said.
The divers are searching for a Lesotho Defence Force helicopter which crashed into the dam on Tuesday with five people on board.
The pilot, Lieutenant Lererileng Maloi, and passengers Sethunya Nthako, engineering manager of the Lesotho Highlands Development Agency, are still missing.
The three remaining passengers, a crew who was filming the dam for a German television station, escaped from the sinking helicopter and swam to safety.
RIP ...