ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 137959
Last updated: 18 June 2013
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Date:14-AUG-2011
Time:±10:30 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic P66P model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Piaggio P-166S Albatross
Operator:NJX Partnership
Registration: ZS-NJX
C/n / msn: 446
Fatalities:Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6
Other fatalities:0
Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:Mamotswiri Peak region, ±32km s/w of Tzaneen, Limpopo -   South Africa
Phase: En route
Nature:Non Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Tzaneen Airport - FATZ
Destination airport:Rand Airport - FAGM
Narrative:
Two ex SAAF Piaggio P-166S Albatross aircraft took off from Tzaneen airport after having participated in a display at the Tzaneen Air Show the day before. The 1½ hour flight to Rand Airport, Germiston was to be conducted under VFR (Visual Flight Rules). Shortly after take-off they formed up in loose formation and headed south west towards Johannesburg. The weather was cloudy over the mountains to the south west of Tzaneen, but clear beyond. It is presumed that at some point the two aircraft entered IMC (Instrument Meteorological Conditions) and lost visual contact with the surrounding terrain. Some 2½ hours later it was ascertained that the aircraft were overdue in Germiston and contact could not be established with any persons aboard either aircraft. At 13:30 a full scale search and rescue operation swung into action involving SASAR (South African Search and Rescue), ARCC (Air Rescue Co-ordination Centre), the SAP (South African Police), the Mountain Club and various volunteers. Inclement weather hampered the search, which continued through to the morning of Tuesday, August 16 when the wreckage of the two aircraft was spotted by a police helicopter at around 08:15 lying against the slopes of the Mamotswiri Peak region about 35m from the top and about 100m apart. Both aircraft had sustained a post impact fire.

Sources:
1. Fly Africa Forum: Albatross Aircraft Missing
2. Weg ná skou
3. Two planes missing after Tzaneen airshow
4. Desperate efforts to find missing planes
5. Search for missing planes resumes
6. Weather hampers missing planes' search effort
7. Search for missing planes suspended
8. Internet abuzz over missing planes
9. Wreckage of missing planes found
10. 'Planes might have flown into mountain'
11. Planes' wreckage: No word on survivors
12. All 13 people dead in crashed planes
13. Names of some on crashed planes released
14. All 13 people killed in Tzaneen plane crash
15. Photo of ZS-NJX
16. CAA starts probe into plane crash tragedy
17. South African Civil Aviation Authority Statement
18. ‘They flew directly into the cliff’
19. Bodies of plane victims to be flown to be PTA
20. CAA gathers evidence at crash site
21. Zuma praises Tzaneen search teams
22. Gran grieves for young crash victims
23. Faces of aircraft tragedy
24. The scene where it all ended
25. Plane victims' families 'shattered'
26. News24.com Photo Gallery
27. Beeld Photo Gallery Showing Crash Site



En Route Tzaneen, August 12, 2011

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
15-Aug-2011 01:03 FLYINGBROTHER1 Added
15-Aug-2011 02:57 Topaz Updated [Registration, Cn, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
15-Aug-2011 03:07 Topaz Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Source]
15-Aug-2011 03:12 Topaz Updated [Aircraft type, Source]
15-Aug-2011 03:16 Topaz Updated [Total fatalities, Source]
15-Aug-2011 04:16 Topaz Updated [Location, Source, Narrative]
15-Aug-2011 04:54 Topaz Updated [Location, Source, Narrative]
15-Aug-2011 05:22 Topaz Updated [Source]
16-Aug-2011 00:32 RobertMB Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport, Source]
16-Aug-2011 01:39 RobertMB Updated [Location, Source, Damage, Narrative]
16-Aug-2011 01:40 RobertMB Updated [Source]
16-Aug-2011 01:41 RobertMB Updated [Other fatalities, Source, Narrative]
16-Aug-2011 05:49 Topaz Updated [Time, Location, Source, Narrative]
16-Aug-2011 06:34 Topaz Updated [Location, Source, Narrative]
16-Aug-2011 07:37 Topaz Updated [Source, Narrative]
17-Aug-2011 01:13 Topaz Updated [Source, Narrative]
17-Aug-2011 04:22 Topaz Updated [Source, Narrative]
17-Aug-2011 04:48 Topaz Updated [Source, Narrative]
17-Aug-2011 09:30 Topaz Updated [Source, Narrative]
17-Aug-2011 10:06 Topaz Updated [Source]
17-Aug-2011 12:20 Topaz Updated [Source, Narrative]
17-Aug-2011 12:20 Topaz Updated [Source, Narrative]
18-Aug-2011 02:17 Topaz Updated [Source]
Number of views: 5496

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