Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PRETORIA258
2005-01-20 14:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Pretoria
Cable title:  

U.S. REGISTERED AIRCRAFT CRASHES IN SOUTH AFRICA

Tags:  CASC EAIR ECON ETRD SF 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS PRETORIA 000258 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/EPS AND AF/S/TCRAIG AND KGAITHER

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC EAIR ECON ETRD SF
SUBJECT: U.S. REGISTERED AIRCRAFT CRASHES IN SOUTH AFRICA


(U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for Internet
distribution.

UNCLAS PRETORIA 000258

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/EPS AND AF/S/TCRAIG AND KGAITHER

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC EAIR ECON ETRD SF
SUBJECT: U.S. REGISTERED AIRCRAFT CRASHES IN SOUTH AFRICA


(U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for Internet
distribution.


1. (U) A U.S.-registered twin prop Aerostar (N7478S)
crashed January 18 near Cornelia, South Africa in the
northern Free State Province. The aircraft, owned and
operated by South African national Dirk de Vos, left
Wonderboom Airport in Pretoria at 4:30 pm destined for
Harrismith. Cornelia Police Inspector Jacques de Vos
confirmed that the craft was piloted by Dirk de Vos and
carried four passengers: Gerhard Bekker, Edwin Mahabeer,
Jaco de Wit, and Jaco Odendaal. All were found dead at the
scene.


2. (U) Inspector Andre de Kok, with South Africa's Civil
Aviation Authority (CAA),told Econoff that the deceased
were known South African citizens. Johannesburg Consular
officials verified that none of the victims were registered
with the Consulate or appeared in the PIERS database.


3. (SBU) South African Police Services (SAPS) Inspector
Tsotetsi told Econoff that heavy rain hit the Cornelia area

SIPDIS
from 14:00 to 22:00 on January 18, which may have affected
flying conditions. However, a reported phone call between a
passenger and a family member in Harrismith 20 minutes
before the scheduled landing made no mention of bad weather.
CAA inspectors on the scene are trying to locate the
whereabouts of the aircraft's five logbooks to rule out the
possibility of airworthiness issues. CAA officials are
liaising with Dennis Jones at the U.S. National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).


4. (SBU) FAA records show that the aircraft is still
registered to Aquila Air Inc. in Endicott, New York.
However, an FAA official told Econoff that attempts to
contact Aquila at the last known address have been
unsuccessful since 1999. CAA officials acquainted with de
Vos told Econoff that he acquired the aircraft sometime in
the past year.

MILOVANOVIC