Progress in Cronje crash probe

2003-08-03 16:28

Cape Town - The Civil Aviation Authority is putting together the "last pieces of the puzzle" around the 2002 aircrash near George that killed former South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje and two pilots.

The CAA's lead investigator into the crash said that the last instrumentation component of the Hawker Siddeley 748 twin-engined turbo propeller aircraft needed to help conclude the investigation, will be sent to the United States on Monday for testing.

Flux detector

"The flux detector, which is a component found in the tip of the wing, picks up the magnetic field of the earth. It acts like a magnetic compass and interprets electrical signals into the instrumentation of the aircraft," Dr Andre de Kock said.

He said the flux detector formed an "important" part of the indications in the flight instrumentation panel of the aircraft, before its fatal last moments.

De Kock said all the other instrumentation, such as the components indicating artificial horizon, flight direction and landing, had been sent to their manufacturers, Honeywell, in the US.

"They have analysed the information and sent me a report. The flux detector is manufactured by Collins Systems and that's why it must be sent to them for analysis," he said.

De Kock said in terms of the instrumentation, the flux detector could be considered the "last piece of the puzzle", but added that with every new piece added, more questions were raised.

Complex investigation

He said that a large part of the accident report had been compiled, and once all the information was received, the CAA would start "finalising" the report.

"It is a complex investigation. We've already worked through the flight recorder and cockpit recorder - commonly known as the black boxes - as well as documentation relating to the pilots, such as licensing and medicals."

No final date

De Kock did not want to commit the accident investigation team to a final date or time frame for the inquiry to run its course.

"Once the final report is compiled it becomes a public document. (However) It must first go to the CAA's internal accident review committee and then to the sub-board committee: accidents for clearance. It then gets released by the commissioner of civil aviation, Trevor Abrahams."

He said the investigation was not fast-tracked because of Cronje's involvement, but was treated with the "same attention and importance as any other accident".

Fateful day

Former Protea cricket captain Hansie Cronje and the two pilots, Willie Meyer and Ian Noakes, died on June 1, 2002, when the aircraft they were travelling in crashed into the Outeniqua mountains near George in the southern Cape.

Much speculation surrounded the cause of the accident, with some reports even suggesting that the George Airport was not as safe as could be because of its location and equipment.

More than 1 000 people attended the former captain's funeral at his alma mater, Grey College, in the Free State, including current test players Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis.

Cronje was one of the country's foremost cricket players before he fell from grace in 2000 when his involvement in an international betting scandal came to light.

- SAPA