SAAF DC3 Crash at Nelspruit Early 1960s

[jimdavis]

Does anyone rememember anything about this? It was either late 50s or early 60s

I understand one landed downhill, at an airshow. It overshot and would up dropping off the end of the runway into the banana plantations.

Apparently a second one was sent to clean up the mess and he undershot (landing uphill). Hit the ridge at the threshold and ploughed into a parked car - I think a spectator was killed

It seems a third one was sent down with strict instructions to land at White River NOT Nelspruit.

I remember Zingi Harrison telling me about this but can find nothing on the net.

Anyone know anything about this?

Jim

[goga]

Yes Jim I was there.Was in 1966 at the opening of the Nelspruit airfield.The Para-Dak landed downhill and went over the end of the runway and the VIP Dak hit the embankment with its gear which broke the right hand gear. It slewed into the crowd killing a man in a deckchair and injuring a woman in a car.The Para-Dak was 6878 and the Vip I think was 6849(Maybe Jaws can confirm).They put a wing from the Para-Dak onto the Vip-Dak and flew it out.The Para-Dak went back by road.6878 later burned out at Rand.6878 was the Dak I did my first jump out of in 1964 so it meant something to me.
Hope that helps Jim

[rodmur]

S'Sgt Pep van Zyl from 1 Para Bn was standing by the door at the back. With the impact he flew the length of the Cabin into the cockpit.

[cargoman]

I recall from my early days at Magnum that our ground staff at NLP often had to warn visiting aircraft not to land downhill whenever we were asked.

[GooneyBird]

I remember seeing a full photo sequence of the whole thing in the DASA archival papers (amongst the late Vic Fouche's photographs), about 10 years ago, when these were held by the SAAF Museum. I seem to remember there were some newspaper clippings of this accident too, amongst the photographs.

[PJL]

I recall from my early days at Magnum that our ground staff at NLP often had to warn visiting aircraft not to land downhill whenever we were asked.

Landing on 22 is still the safest bet but these mishaps were probably before they lengthened the runway for the Metroliner.

PJL

[StressMerchant]

The Para-Dak was 6878 and the Vip I think was 6849(Maybe Jaws can confirm).

Among the bits of Dak paperwork I have is a handwritten list of all the Daks operated by the SAAF, and their fates. This included the original 84 lend-lease ones, and the subsequent (confusing) ones The list was apparently written by the late Dave Becker.

6878 is listed as destroyed by fire at Rand Airport on 24 May 1981, as you recalled.

6849 is listed as being sold off as ZS-DKP (Jan 1955), then becoming VP-YSP, A2-ZEP, ZS-IPX, A2-AAA, ZS-IPX. It then reverted to SAAF service as 6892. Unfortunately the list only records the serials and their eventual fates, not the operational incidents in their lifetimes.

Perhaps JAWS or Brendan can shed some light on the event.

[goga]

Been bothering me which VIP Dak it was that broke the gear and slewed into the crowd.6852 was a VIP Dak at the time which became a TP dak later.Jerking my memory Im sure it could have been 6852.Where is Jaws to help

[Roosterfish]

Gentlemen, it's taken me a long time to access info on this incident.
I lived in Nelspruit (I was young and boarding at St Peter's, my parents Bryce & Marge Pollock used to run the Pergola Roadhouse) when this took place
I was the mascot for the Nelspruit Para Club at the time and clearly remember the incident. From memory the head guy at the club was called Reg and used to buy 50 Chesterfield cigaretes from the Pergola every day.
I was present when both accidents took place and remember clearly looking at the one Dak in the field and then the other which plowed into the on lookers. The one in the field was fine but the other which spun into the crowd not so good.

[Hotspur]

29 July 1967 - 6882 was the Dak that went into the crowd. The spectator who lost his life was Brian Lee, his wife was seriously injured but recovered. Another woman apparently lost her leg when the Dakota hit her car. 6878 had overshot and gone into the banana plantation earlier, four Harvards arrived and were followed by 6882 around 11h30. Chief of Air Staff Gen HJ Martin was on board at the time.

[Inatnek]

Does anyone rememember anything about this? It was either late 50s or early 60s

I understand one landed downhill, at an airshow. It overshot and would up dropping off the end of the runway into the banana plantations.

Apparently a second one was sent to clean up the mess and he undershot (landing uphill). Hit the ridge at the threshold and ploughed into a parked car - I think a spectator was killed

It seems a third one was sent down with strict instructions to land at White River NOT Nelspruit.

I remember Zingi Harrison telling me about this but can find nothing on the net.

Anyone know anything about this?

Jim

Hi Jim, Your understanding is correct. I was in that Para-DC3 aeroplane when it dove into the banana plantation. It was during an airshow with the opening of the Nelspruit airfield in June/July 1967. You are correct with the second one as well. I have two photo's in my possession of each plane after the accidents.

Rodmur is correct, it was indeed S'sgt Pepe Van Zyl who flew the length of the fuselarge and his jump boot hit me on the head above my left ear before he crashed into the pilot's cockpit! The plane was not fine as per ' Roosterfish' The nose had a big dent and the props were bent.

Hope that helps Jim.

I am now looking for newspaper reports of these incidents.
Can anyone help?

[Velocity]

I was the mascot for the Nelspruit Para Club at the time...

I am intrigued Roosterfish - what exactly does a 'Para Club Mascot' do as it sounds like something I want for my DZ ?
V

[jimdavis]

Does anyone rememember anything about this? It was either late 50s or early 60s

I understand one landed downhill, at an airshow. It overshot and would up dropping off the end of the runway into the banana plantations.

Apparently a second one was sent to clean up the mess and he undershot (landing uphill). Hit the ridge at the threshold and ploughed into a parked car - I think a spectator was killed

It seems a third one was sent down with strict instructions to land at White River NOT Nelspruit.

I remember Zingi Harrison telling me about this but can find nothing on the net.

Anyone know anything about this?

Jim

Hi Jim, Your understanding is correct. I was in that Para-DC3 aeroplane when it dove into the banana plantation. It was during an airshow with the opening of the Nelspruit airfield in June/July 1967. You are correct with the second one as well. I have two photo's in my possession of each plane after the accidents.

Rodmur is correct, it was indeed S'sgt Pepe Van Zyl who flew the length of the fuselarge and his jump boot hit me on the head above my left ear before he crashed into the pilot's cockpit! The plane was not fine as per ' Roosterfish' The nose had a big dent and the props were bent.

Hope that helps Jim.

I am now looking for newspaper reports of these incidents.
Can anyone help?

Greetings Inatnek, and a big welcome to Avcom (I have been puzzling about your name - is it Ken...something spelt backwards?)

Thanks so much for confirming what happened. My enquiry was because I was writing an article for SA Flyer at the time. That was six years ago so I just went ahead without your input. But thanks anyway.

Would you mind sending me copies of the two photos you have? My email address is jim@border.co.za.

I think Derek Hopkins, another Avcommer, was also in one of the jump ships. Not a glorious day for the SAAF - no wonder details are hard to come by.

jim

[Inatnek]

Does anyone rememember anything about this? It was either late 50s or early 60s

I understand one landed downhill, at an airshow. It overshot and would up dropping off the end of the runway into the banana plantations.

Apparently a second one was sent to clean up the mess and he undershot (landing uphill). Hit the ridge at the threshold and ploughed into a parked car - I think a spectator was killed

It seems a third one was sent down with strict instructions to land at White River NOT Nelspruit.

I remember Zingi Harrison telling me about this but can find nothing on the net.

Anyone know anything about this?

Jim

Hi Jim, Your understanding is correct. I was in that Para-DC3 aeroplane when it dove into the banana plantation. It was during an airshow with the opening of the Nelspruit airfield in June/July 1967. You are correct with the second one as well. I have two photo's in my possession of each plane after the accidents.

Rodmur is correct, it was indeed S'sgt Pepe Van Zyl who flew the length of the fuselarge and his jump boot hit me on the head above my left ear before he crashed into the pilot's cockpit! The plane was not fine as per ' Roosterfish' The nose had a big dent and the props were bent.

Hope that helps Jim.

I am now looking for newspaper reports of these incidents.
Can anyone help?

Greetings Inatnek, and a big welcome to Avcom (I have been puzzling about your name - is it Ken...something spelt backwards?)

Thanks so much for confirming what happened. My enquiry was because I was writing an article for SA Flyer at the time. That was six years ago so I just went ahead without your input. But thanks anyway.

Would you mind sending me copies of the two photos you have? My email address is jim@border.co.za.

I think Derek Hopkins, another Avcommer, was also in one of the jump ships. Not a glorious day for the SAAF - no wonder details are hard to come by.

jim
Hi Jim, I have sent you an email 2 says ago with a reply and 6 photo's.

[Expilot]

S'Sgt Pep van Zyl from 1 Para Bn was standing by the door at the back. With the impact he flew the length of the Cabin into the cockpit.

Pep a legend ... was our Sergeant Major at 1RR on the Bluff in the early 80's - that moustache and voice