ATC transcript South African DC-4 - 30 JUN 1962
ATC transcription of the June 30, 1962 midair collision near Durban, South Africa
Source: "Fields of Air" by James Byrom, ISBN 1-919874-12-7 Pages 109-116 published by Covos Day Books 2001 and special thanks to Viktor Culjak
Source: "Fields of Air" by James Byrom, ISBN 1-919874-12-7 Pages 109-116 published by Covos Day Books 2001 and special thanks to Viktor Culjak
The reader of these transcripts is cautioned that the transcription of a ATC tape is not a precise science but is the best possible product from a group investigative effort. The transcript, or parts thereof, if taken out of context can be misleading. Therefore, the ATC transcripts should only be viewed as an investigative tool to be used in conjunction with other evidence. Conclusions or interpretations should not be made using the transcript as the sole source of information.
Furthermore, this transcript is made available for educational purposes, so the reader is encouraged to read the incident description associated with the transcripts for better understanding of the circumstances.
Furthermore, this transcript is made available for educational purposes, so the reader is encouraged to read the incident description associated with the transcripts for better understanding of the circumstances.
Legenda:
Tower = Durban Air Traffic Control Tower
Tower-1 = Durban Air Traffic Control Tower controller #1
Tower-2 = Durban Air Traffic Control Tower controller #2
DC-4 = South African Airways DC-4 ZS-BMH
Tower = Durban Air Traffic Control Tower
Tower-1 = Durban Air Traffic Control Tower controller #1
Tower-2 = Durban Air Traffic Control Tower controller #2
DC-4 = South African Airways DC-4 ZS-BMH
| source | content |
|---|---|
| Tower: | Durban's reading you loud and clear now... |
| DC-4: | Reading you load and clear. We are at flight level 7.5 approaching New Hanover...about four minutes from there. Are we clear to descend further? |
| Tower: | Roger...if you Victor Mike Charlie you are clear to carry on descending; and our weather here, we have a bit of cloud north of us and the base appears to be 2000ft, but at the moment there is not more than two-eights of it, and a higher layer above that. Over. |
| DC-4: | Roger. Thankyou. What's your surface wind? |
| Tower: | Surface wind is 150 degrees, eight knots. We [sic] got Harvards in the circuit at the moment...they are using runway 05 but shortly will be altered to grass runway 20 - over. |
| DC-4: | Roger, thank you. |
| Tower: | These Harvards are operating VMC, so if you just keep a watch for them as you approach Durban and call me again at Pinetown or five minutes out. |
| [...] | |
| Tower: | I'd say there's about five-eights with base apparently just on 2000 ft. |
| DC-4: | Roger, if you have radar going Jimmy, if you can give us descent - bring us down. |
| Tower-1: | Roger, we've just switched it on - er - we'll try and pick you up shortly, over. |
| DC-4: | Roger. |
| [...] | |
| Tower-2: | 'Maintaining 4000 ft?' |
| DC-4: | Roger, descending to 4000 ft. |
| Tower-2: | Roger |
| DC-4: | How far out are we Mac? |
| Tower-2: | Well I estimate 11 nautical miles, but I am not quite sure at the present...but as soon as I get a better picture of you I'll turn you for identification. |
| DC-4: | Roger. |
| Harvard: | (calls the Tower and announces that he is at 4500ft) |
| DC-4: | We have passed over the field now |
| Tower-2: | Roger. Turning left onto 050 and cleared to 3000ft. |
| DC-4: | Roger. Descending to 3000 ft. |
| Harvard: | (Tells Tower he is approaching 4000 ft.) |
| Tower-1: | Say again. |
| Harvard: | Chaka 2 just now at 4000 ft. |
| Tower-1: | Roger 02. Would you just maintain 4000 ft and do a 360 [circle] in your position - over. |
| DC-4: | 4000 ft. |
| Tower-2: | Descend to 35 now. |
| DC-4: | Descending to 35 now. |
| [...] | |
| Harvard: | (again confirms he is at 4000 ft) |
| Tower-2: | (asks Skymaster for an altitude check) |
| DC-4: | We are now 4000 ft descending. |
| Tower-2: | Roger, you're still at 4000 ft? - over. |
| DC-4: | Ja, we are just getting our speed down. |
| Tower-2: | Roger. Please reduce to 35 now. We have other traffic above you. |
| DC-4: | Hang on.We have hit something. Boy! Something has hit us...hang on...something in the air...do you know what it was? |
| Tower-2: | Well there is traffic above at 4000. That is why we asked you down to 35. |
| DC-4: | Well we have hit something now. |
| Tower-2: | Hit something, what is it? |
| DC-4: | I don't know. Just hang on a sec, Mac, we're going to come down as soon as we can. |
| DC-4: | Please keep us in radar contact all the time |
| Tower-2: | Right. That's fine. We're watching you. You're doing fine |
| DC-4: | How are we getting on, from now onwards. |
| Tower-2: | You are doing fine. You are now eight miles and well seaward of centre line...closing in nicely...Range seven miles. Well to the starboard of the centre line...suggest revised heading of 270 now. |
| DC-4: | Roger. |
| Tower-2: | Range now four and a half miles, closing nicely. Surface wind 170\5 knots. Clear straight in... Four miles to go on radar...closing nicely to centre line. |
| DC-4: | : You have got an aircraft in your circuit now. I hope the bastard keeps out of the way. |
| Tower-2: | Roger. Three miles. Coming on to centre nicely and clear to land on the centre. Very nice. |
