UPDATE: Civil Aviation Association to investigate Midrand plane crash

Update: 2 March 15:30pm

Grand Central Airport was contacted for comment but said the matter was being investigated by the CAA and they have no authority to comment before investigations are complete.

Kabelo Ledwaba from the CAA said a team of aircraft accident and incident investigators have commenced the process of investigating the cause of the Beechcraft Baron E55 crash. He added, “The information at hand indicates that the aircraft had departed from Grand Central Airport and was destined to land back at Grand Central Airport, as this was a training flight undertaking – a touch-and-go circuit training. The accident occurred during the third touch-and-go circuit.”

Furthermore, Ledwaba said that it’s important to note that, whilst the investigation has commenced, they vary in complexity and, at times, may take several months to complete. “Notwithstanding, the completion of an investigation is marked by the release of a final accident report which would reveal the probable cause and also outline safety recommendations aimed at improving levels of safety and avoiding a recurrence of the causal factor(s),” he concluded.

Update: 9.54pm:

Superintendent Nokuthula Pako from the Metro Police said a 6-seater twin engine aircraft crashed inside the premises on Kingswillow Street.

Two males escaped with burn wounds while the third victim was airlifted to Milpark Hospital with serious injuries.

Pako said the one burn victim was taken to Tembisa Hospital while the other was transported to  Joburg Gen.

“Civil Aviation officials were on the scene.
Inspector Swart and Sgt. Vanwyk both from Jmpd K9 were also on the scene first,” she said.

The officers in charge of the scene was Constable Ngoepe and his co driver from Midrand Police Station.

Midrand Reporter spoke to a neighbour, who was at the scene. He said the small aircraft crashed in his neighbours yard, a few meters from his house.

According to the neighbour, the owner of the property where the crash occurred ran outside after hearing the crash. He heard screams and managed to pull the three victims from the aircraft, before the it exploded.

The man told Midrand Reporter that the aircraft was completely burnt, with only one of the wings still intact.

Sandton forensics were at the scene, but told Midrand Reporter they were leaving, due to poor lighting. They would return to the crash scene in the morning to conduct their investigation.

Update: 9.07pm

At 7.15pm this evening Emer-G-MED paramedics and Trauma Doctor responded alongside Netcare911 to reports of a light aircraft crash in the Randjiesfontien Estate, in Midrand.

Emer-G-Med spokesperson Max Cohen said it was reported by witnesses that the light aircraft crashed, just after it took off from a nearby airport.

“On arrival paramedics found that three people had been critically injured. The patients were found lying a short distance away, after having been pulled from the burning wreckage by residents of the estate.”

Cohen said that on assessment it was found that all three patients; a pilot, a student and a passenger had sustained severe third degree burns and all required rapid Advanced Life Support intervention.

“Emer-G-Med’s trauma doctor worked alongside paramedics to stabilise the critical patients, two of which were placed on full life support.”

The Netcare911 Aeromedical Helicopter was called to the scene to airlift the pilot, who sustained the most severe injuries, to a specialist Johannesburg hospital.

“The two others were rushed by road ambulance to various nearby specialist Trauma Hospitals for further care,” he said.

The exact cause of the horror crash is unknown and will be investigated by the relevant authorities.

Initial report:

Three people have been seriously injured after a plane crashed at Randjesfontein in Midrand. Paramedics from different emergency services are currently at the scene.

Netcare 911’s Chris Botha confirmed that just before 7pm paramedics responded to reports of a plane crash at the intersection of King Willow Crescent and Java Road in Midrand.

Botha added, “Paramedics arrived at the scene and found that three men sustained life threatening injuries. One of the critically injured men was airlifted with the Netcare 911 medical helicopter to a specialised hospital for the care that he required. Paramedics are still stabilising the other critically injured men before they will be transported to  hospital for the care that they required.”

The cause of the accident is not yet known.

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