Accident Aero Commander S-2R ZS-OZM,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 22618
 
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Date:Saturday 30 August 2008
Time:
Type:Silhouette image of generic SS2P model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Aero Commander S-2R
Owner/operator:Orsmond Aerial Spray (Pty) Ltd
Registration: ZS-OZM
MSN: 1553R
Fatalities:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Category:Accident
Location:Near Kataza Airstrip, west of Melmoth, KZN -   South Africa
Phase: Initial climb
Nature:Fire fighting
Departure airport:Kataza Airstrip
Destination airport:Kataza Airstrip
Investigating agency: CAA S.A.
Confidence Rating: Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities
Narrative:
Aircraft got into difficulties shortly after take-off from Kataza Airstrip and crashed into trees, killing the pilot, who was from New Zealand and working under contract. Kataza is a heavily forested area approximately 150km north east of Durban and 60 km north-west of Empangeni.

Sketchy reports from the area suggest the aircraft went down from about 1,000 ft agl and that the pilot may have suffered heart failure, rather than a problem with the aircraft, such as engine failure.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: CAA S.A.
Report number: 
Status: Investigation completed
Duration:
Download report: Final report

Sources:

1. One killed in KZN plane crash
2. Fires rip through northern KZN
3. News 24: 10 dead in KZN fires
4. ]News Today: Ten die in KZN fires
5. Kiwi 'icon' dies fighting South African fires
6. An "icon" of agricultural aviation in New Zealand, Donald Walter Ussher, 68, has been killed while fighting a forest fire in South Africa
7. KZN fire death toll rising

Images:


Google Earth view of Babanango and the air-strip south-east of the town



Pietermaritzburg, September 18, 2006

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
30-Aug-2008 16:14 Topaz Added
30-Aug-2008 23:54 Topaz Updated
31-Aug-2008 01:07 Topaz Updated
31-Aug-2008 23:45 Topaz Updated
01-Sep-2008 09:08 Topaz Updated
01-Sep-2008 11:42 Topaz Updated
01-Sep-2008 14:14 Topaz Updated

Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description

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