A small plane crashed and exploded into flames on a farm just outside of Newcastle shortly after 6pm this evening.
The wreckage of the plane crash.
The silent night air was split open by the splintering of metal and sparks of flame after a Cessna 172 crashed and exploded into flames shortly after 6pm this evening.
It is believed the plane was en-route to Rand Airport in Johannesburg when the pilots encountered a ‘dark zone’ and lost control of the aircraft, slamming into the ground on farm just outside of Newcastle.
Tragically, both pilots lost their lives in the ensuing crash.
A witness to the aftermath of the crash described the scene:
“I heard the plane flying very low, and then a huge noise. When I got outside the plane and the area around was already on fire.”
Close to 100m of the area surrounding the plane had been set ablaze by the fiery wreckage of the plane.
The witness believed the only reason as to why the fire did not spread further, was due to the wreckage of the plane coming to a rest in the nearby stream.
ER24 and EMRS paramedics as well as Protection Services members rushed to the scene, but were hampered by the inaccessibility of the remote location.
Nearby farm owners and farmhands helped to stop the fire from spreading further and wreaking more devastation to the nearby farms.
Currently SAPS forensic units are on scene looking for any possible clues that may suggest a possible mechanical failure leading to the tragic crash.
The Civil Aviation Authority has been informed, and will conduct a full investigation tomorrow.
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