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Plane found 50m from road
02/01/2008 10:14 - (SA)
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| Forensic teams investigate the crash scene. (Jackie Kruger, Die Burger) |
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Karel Willemse and Jackie Kruger, Die Burger
Oudtshoorn - Four people died after a Piper 180 aircraft crashed into the Swartberg Mountain at Grootklip at about 11:00 on Tuesday.
The bodies of three women and a man were removed late on Tuesday afternoon.
The man was apparently the pilot. Their identities have not been released, said police spokesperson Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe at the scene.
The aircraft's registration was unknown, as well as its point of departure or destination.
Thick mist
It is not yet clear what caused the accident, but the area is known for thick mist, said James Jafta, a representative for CapeNature in Oudtshoorn.
A resident in the Matjiesfontein area at the foot of the mountain heard the sound of an aircraft at about 11:00, but didn't see anything. His wife said she saw the aircraft while walking her dogs.
"I thought it was rather unusual, because aircraft are seldom seen here. We usually only hear the big ones flying past. I thought they might be tourists visiting a nearby game ranch. The aircraft flew past and I didn't see it again."
A member of the public informed the Oudstshoorn police about the accident between 11:00 and 12.00.
The aircraft crashed on a rock about 50m above the road. The nose broke off, but the fuselage remained largely intact.
It seemed as if one of the seats had been flung from the cabin. Smaller pieces of wreckage were strewn over a small area. A part of the engine landed in the road.
One of the bodies was apparently flung from the wreckage, but Mangqwengqwe didn't want to confirm it.
The other bodies were still inside the wreckage. According to Mangqwengqwe the passengers apparently all died on impact.
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