Plane crash at Graskop Airbase kills one
GRASKOP - A 27-year-old man was hit and killed by an aircraft at Graskop Airbase while on his way to work on Monday.
According to provincial SAPS spokesperson, Brig Leonard Hlathi, who confirmed the incident, the victim and three other men were crossing the runway to reach a building site where they were working.
Hlathi confirmed that the aircraft, a Piper Cherokee Arrow, was approaching the runway to land when the man could not get out of its way in time. “The pilot had signalled for the men to get out the way, but to no avail,” he said. He apparently approached the runway twice, failing to make a successful landing as the men were in his way. He eventually touched down, hitting the victim with the wing of the plane. The victim was killed on impact.
Eyewitnesses (his colleagues) said the victim shouted and warned them to move away from the runway. “As the aircraft made the landing, the man apparently thought he was allowing enough space for the aircraft to do so. He was, however, hit by the wing of the plane and killed on impact,” said Hlathi. More than one source told Lowvelder that the victim was, however, taking a selfportrait with his phone when the wing of the plane hit him at the back of his neck.
The men are all originally from Soweto, Gauteng. The victim’s identity was still not available at the time of going to press.
Even though the Lowveld and Escarpment Fire Protection Association (Lefpa) uses the airfield during the fire season, its manager, André Scheepers, confirmed that no firefighting personnel nor Lefpa aircraft were involved.
Speaking on behalf of the Accident and Incident Investigation Division at the Civil Aviation Authority, Kabelo Ledwaba, confirmed that the accident had taken place, adding that it was reported soon after occurring.
He said the team of investigators is still gathering information to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. “At an appropriate time, further details will be released,” Ledwaba said. A formal investigation was launched, and the results are pending. It is therefore not known, whether or not a case has been opened against the pilot.
“As the aircraft made the landing, the man apparently thought he was allowing enough space for the aircraft to do so.”