Fourth victim dies after aircraft accident
EMALAHLENI - The fourth man who was involved in a light aircraft crash outside a local mine has died.
Octorian Keitsheng Mashilane (40) died on Tuesday April 30. He was the only survivor of the tragic crash that killed two other young cadet pilots on Sunday April
21. The third victim was burnt beyond recognition and his identity, if known, has not been released.
The Cessna 172 of the Kishugu Aviation Training Organisation crashed shortly after take-off from the Witbank Airfield.
Mashilane was admitted to Witbank Provincial Hospital and spent five days in the casualty ward before being transferred to ICU.
The aspiring cadet pilot suffered severe burn wounds after the light aircraft had burst into flames.
Mashilane’s landlord, Yvonne Combrink, broke down in tears over the passing of her tenant. “He was the perfect tenant. I never had any issues with him. He helped around our home and never complained, ever,” she said. She also said she wished he had been transferred to a better hospital that was well-equipped to deal with the severity of his burns.
Combrink said she visited him on Sunday April 28, and he was responding well. “But his wounds became infected and his liver was badly damaged. I guess that was too much for his body,” she said.
She said she would miss Mashilane’s smile, although after the crash, he was unrecognisable. “I could not see his smile anymore after the accident. He was so badly burnt and it broke my heart seeing him in that state. I am heartbroken,” the landlord ended.
During an exclusive interview on Thursday May 2, Mashilane’s brother, Topic, was still very traumatised and said he does not have much to say other than the fact that his brother’s passing deeply saddens him. “He was our last hope. We prayed and had hoped for his recovery,” he said.
Themba Maebela (34) and Donald Malekutu (29), both Kishugu Aviation Training Organisation cadet pilots based in Mbombela, were among the deceased. They were badly burnt.
Ronny Nkambule, Maebela’s grandfather, said commemoration services were held for Themba and one other cadet. “They will be buried in the same village,” he said.
The Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Division confirmed it is investigating the crash.