Aircraft crashes at Vygeboom Dam
Two passengers taken to hospital in Nelspruit.
BADPLAAS – A man has been airlifted to Mediclinic Nelspruit in a serious condition after his light aircraft crashed at Vygeboom Dam at about 06:45.
Mr Michiel Jansen and his son, Adriaan, were the only two passengers in the aircraft. Michiel was the pilot.
According to Mr Clarence Hobbs of Barberton EMRS, the Jansens stayed in Barberton years ago and is currently residing in Mbombela.
He said, according to eye witnesses who were fishing at the dam this morning, the aircraft was flying over the dam and made a turn. “Eye witnesses said that the aircraft was vertical at one stage as it turned and it is suspected that the wind might have caused the pilot to lose control.”
Also read: Body of pilot retrieved from plane wreck
The aircraft crashed in a nearby canal. Eye witnesses rushed to assist the two occupants and summoned emergency services to the scene.
“They were obviously in severe pain and couldn’t tell us what might have caused the accident,” Hobbs added.
Adriaan was taken to Rob Ferreira Hospital in Mbombela.
Brig Selvy Mohlala, provincial police spokesman, said the accident was being investigated.
Also read: Last year’s Cessna crash near Graskop caused by human error
