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27 January 2023
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Aircraft accident at lake at Henley-on-Klip claims two lives, Midvaal
A Sling TSi aircraft was destroyed when it crashed into the Bass Lake in Henley-on-Klip in Gauteng. According to an eye witness, “They came in for a low level pass over the lake, pancaked the water twice, pulled it up vertically, stalled and then spun in”. Morné Mommsen, divisional officer at Midvaal Fire Department, said, “On Monday, 2 January 2023 at around 18h45, Midvaal Fire Department received a call of a small plane that crashed into Bass Lake. A crew responded to the scene to find that SAPS Dive Unit is already on scene. The two standby officers was informed and responded to the scene. SAPS and Midvaal Fire Department were the first arriving services.”
Captain Sean Russel, aged 47, a test pilot and Dane Anthony Fourie, aged 35, a photographer, were on board the aircraft and had taken off from Tedderfield Air Park, a small airport in Gauteng and flew over Bass Lake prior to the accident.
Mommsen added, “Because it was a water search and body recover ie active crime scene, SAPS remained in charge of the scene together with Local Authority, Midvaal Fire Department. Different volunteer services also started to arrive at the scene to assist with some functions. Not one of the volunteer services took over incident command.”
“The first victim was removed by the SAPS divers and declared by Chris Morris of Gauteng Province EMS at around 21h14 and the second victim was removed from water and declared at around 21h35”, said Mommsen.
“The SAPS decided that we will not continue with any recovery work and will continue the next morning at 08h00am. The next morning members from the SAPS Dive Unit, SAPS K9 Unit, SAPS Airwing and Midvaal Fire Department started with the recovery process of the aircraft with the assistance of a local business, Glen Douglas Dolomite Mine crane services. With the use of 210l drums and ropes, the divers managed to lift the aircraft from the bottom of Bass Lake. Thereafter we made use of the SAPS boat to drag the aircraft to shore. Divisional officer Gouws, station officer Bellinghan and I assisted SAPS to recover aircraft from the water. Large slings were then attached to the aircraft and then it was removed from the water making use of the crane. The scene was then handed over to the Civil Aviation Authorities (CAA) for further investigations.”
“A special thank you goes to the SAPS Dive Unit and K9 Unit. In addition, Midvaal Fire Department would also like to give a shout out to the Civil Aviation Authorities, NSRI, SARZA and anyone else that was present to assist”, concluded Mommsen.
Source: Morné Mommsen, divisional officer, Midvaal Fire Department
Captain Sean Russel, aged 47, a test pilot and Dane Anthony Fourie, aged 35, a photographer, were on board the aircraft and had taken off from Tedderfield Air Park, a small airport in Gauteng and flew over Bass Lake prior to the accident.
Mommsen added, “Because it was a water search and body recover ie active crime scene, SAPS remained in charge of the scene together with Local Authority, Midvaal Fire Department. Different volunteer services also started to arrive at the scene to assist with some functions. Not one of the volunteer services took over incident command.”
“The first victim was removed by the SAPS divers and declared by Chris Morris of Gauteng Province EMS at around 21h14 and the second victim was removed from water and declared at around 21h35”, said Mommsen.
“The SAPS decided that we will not continue with any recovery work and will continue the next morning at 08h00am. The next morning members from the SAPS Dive Unit, SAPS K9 Unit, SAPS Airwing and Midvaal Fire Department started with the recovery process of the aircraft with the assistance of a local business, Glen Douglas Dolomite Mine crane services. With the use of 210l drums and ropes, the divers managed to lift the aircraft from the bottom of Bass Lake. Thereafter we made use of the SAPS boat to drag the aircraft to shore. Divisional officer Gouws, station officer Bellinghan and I assisted SAPS to recover aircraft from the water. Large slings were then attached to the aircraft and then it was removed from the water making use of the crane. The scene was then handed over to the Civil Aviation Authorities (CAA) for further investigations.”
“A special thank you goes to the SAPS Dive Unit and K9 Unit. In addition, Midvaal Fire Department would also like to give a shout out to the Civil Aviation Authorities, NSRI, SARZA and anyone else that was present to assist”, concluded Mommsen.
Source: Morné Mommsen, divisional officer, Midvaal Fire Department
