Media Statement

 

Hawker Siddeley 748 Registration ZS-OJU aircraft accident in George

Hansie Cronje accident page one of two pages

 

 

Wednesday, 2 April 2003

 

We refer to the media coverage over the past weekend pertaining to alleged probable cause or causes of the aircraft accident at George on 01 June 2002, involving the Hawker Siddeley 748 registration ZS-OJU, in which Hansie Cronje and two flight crew were killed.

 

South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) would like to reiterate that the accident investigation has not been completed and would take approximately another six(6) months to complete the investigation. Once the investigation has been completed the accident report would be made available to the public. No preliminary accident report with conclusions or findings on probable cause or causes of the accident has been made.

 

The CAA would like to reassure the public that, as is normal practice in the investigation of all fatal accidents, the following considerations, amongst others, are taken into account in the investigation process: the aircraft, flight crew, weather, operations, air traffic control, navigational aids and instrument landing systems, ground conditions and any other relevant aspect.

 

The issue of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) is one of the many issues that are investigated in determining the probable cause of the accident. To conclude that the ILS constitutes the probable cause of the accident without the benefit of the outcome of the accident investigation report is inappropriate at this stage.

 

Further, the CAA also wishes to reassure the public that it regularly inspects airport infrastructure and installations, including visual and navigational aids at all licensed South African airports to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. In this regard, we are pleased to announce that, all South African licensed airports meet regulatory requirements and are among the safest in the world.

 

Issued by:        KC Marobela

General Manager: Legal Services

083 635 0044 / 012 426 0170