Pilot, 81, dies in crash

2003-12-16 21:54

Martina Smit

Pretoria - Flying was his life but sadly, it also caused his death.

Dr Thomas Chamberlain, 81, one of South Africa's oldest pilots, and a friend died instantly on Tuesday when their light aircraft crashed near the Magaliesburg mountains.

Doc, as Chamberlain was affectionately known, died in the aircraft, while his friend, Thinus Hoffman, 61, was thrown two metres from the wreckage.

"What Doc did not know about flying wasn't worth knowing," said a distraught family friend on Tuesday. Chamberlain, who was in possession of a valid pilots licence also recently passed his medical examination.

Pilots older than 40 have to undergo an annual medical test and they have to do a flying test every two years in order to retain their licences.

Chamberlain had been flying for 62 years and had experience in flying 37 different types of aircraft.

The veteran pilot not only flew in World War II but had also been an instructor to pilots learning to fly Tiger Moths and Harvards. He was also recently honoured as a lifetime member of the Krugersdorp flying club.

According to an eye witness, Bokkie Meyer, the plane had circled Hartbeesfontein without any problems. "Suddenly he (the pilot) turned too sharp. He nose dived, and the engine was running all the time," Meyer said.

Chamberlain had doctored people in the Hartbeesfontein district for decades, said Meyer. "He was one of those old-school doctors," he said.

Both victims were residents of the Golden Harvest retirement centre in Magaliesburg. Chamberlain is survived by his wife, Shiela.

- Beeld