Air Force Grounds Fleet After Crash [Sapa, 2008-01-16]

Publication: Sapa Issued: Johannesburg Date: 2008-01-16 Reporter: Sapa

Air Force Grounds Fleet After Crash

Publication	Sapa BC-DEFENCE-PLANECRASH
Issued	Johannesburg
Date	2008-01-16

The South African Air Force (SAAF) has grounded its fleet of Pilatus Astra PC-7 MkII aircraft following the death of a pilot in a plane crash on Tuesday.

The fleet would remain grounded until further notice, South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Headquarters said on Wednesday.

The SANDF has named the pilot killed in the crash as Lieutenant-Colonel Chris Meiring, 58.

He was piloting a Pilatus Astra PC-7 MkII en route to Air Force Base Langebaanweg for routine maintenance.

The aircraft went down outside Bredasdorp, in the Western Cape, shortly after take-off from the South African Air Force's Test Flight and Development Centre at noon on Tuesday.

Meiring was survived by his wife Anna and two daughters, Tanya and Melissa, said SANDF spokesman Colonel Danie van der Westhuizen.

Funeral details had not yet been finalised.

He said the decision to ground the entire fleet was made following the convening of a board of inquiry into the crash.

Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota, Chief of the SANDF General Godfrey Ngwenya, and Chief of the SAAF Lieutenant-General Carlo Gagiano have extended their sympathies and condolences to Meiring's family.

With acknowledgement to Sapa.

The pilot at the age of 58 and with the rank ot lieutenant-colonel would not appear to be a rookie.

What might be a relevant question is why a lieutenant-colonel would be flying a basic trainer and why he should be returning it to its logistics base for routine maintenance.

Without pre-empting the conclusion of the board of enquiry, it is clear that either something went wrong with the aircraft or something went wrong with the pilot.