More details on the tragic death of Kobus Dicks, 57, in an aircraft crash, between, Caledon and Swellendam in the Western Cape, have been released.

Kobus was born in Dundee and schooled at Dundee High School.  The family home was adjacent to the present NDE Motors at the entrance to Dundee.

His death sparked an outpouring of tributes on the Courier’s Facebook page.

Kobus was flying to Cape Town from Lanseria International Airport near Johannesburg when his Eclipse-EA500 jet lost radio contact over the Riviersonderend area, cruising at an altitude of 11.43km at 10.15am.

According to the SA Air Force, its airforce command posts at Overberg Airforce Base and Ysterplaat Airforce Base were alerted.

A search and rescue operation was launched by both 35 Squadron with a C47-TP Dakota and a 22 Squadron Oryx.

A Gripen fighter jet was sent from Overberg Airforce Base to intercept the missing jet and 25 minutes later it spotted the aircraft. The Gripen pilot tried unsuccessfully to establish radio contact with the jet, which was dropping altitude and hurtling towards mountains below in a spiral. The plane eventually crashed in a narrow ravine 8km south of the N2 between Caledon and Swellendam.

According to the SA Airforce, the plane disintegrated on impact and no fire was observed by the Gripen pilot. The Overberg Airforce Base fire and rescue service was on Monday dispatched to the scene of the crash where they assisted the rescue team.

Kobus lived in Vryheid  had interests in several businesses, including companies trading in property, transport and meat.  He owned Meadow Meats in Vryheid

His brother, Henry Dicks, a lawyer said he was too distraught to speak, only confirming the death.

He was married to Leone – daughter of Pastor Lionel Fouche who was previously in Dundee.

A report, released by the SACAA during its National Safety Seminar in October, indicated that between April 2014 and March 2015, aircraft accidents declined from 144 to 120, a 17 percent decrease.

The number of fatal accidents decreased from 27 to 16, a 41 percent reduction while the number of deaths declined from 41 to 26, a 37 percent decrease.