SAA Pretoria Crash, Windhoek 1968 - help!

[airmatix]

I am one of the producers of a new series on kykNET, called "Onthou".

This series deals with the many tragedies that have befallen us as South Africans, and give eyewitnesses and survivors the opportunity to tell their stories. Incidentally, the first EP of the show will be on air tonight, Thursday 14/01/10 at 21:00 on channel 111, and tells the story of the SAS President Kruger, which sank in 1982 during maneuvers.

We have already covered the Laingsburg Flood, the Westdene Bus disaster and the Ceres/Tulbagh earthquake. We're also currently researching a whole host of other events, such as the Ellispark Stadium stampede, Cyclone Demoina, the Oceanos and many more.

Also on our list is the crash of the Pretoria, which happened near Windhoek in 1968. We believe that four or five people survived the crash, and we are desperate to track them down - even if they may be living in England (many of the passengers were from the UK). In addition to survivors, we are also looking for families of the victims that might be willing to speak to us, as well as ATC staff that may have dealt with the accident. Emergency workers from the scene, police, news reporters... Anybody that might be able to tell us more about the event.

I would really appreciate any input from the many members of this forum.

Waldo van der Waal
Executive Producer: Plan-C Productions

[Dunesurfer]

As far as i can remember,there was only one survivor.

You can contact this newspaper,as they would have information in their archives.

[Leo Theron]

DS is correct. There was only one survivor. He was an courier from the US Embassy, if I recall correctly.

I recall this clearly, as there was a photograph in the Cape Argus of this guy, relatively unscathed, in a dressing gown and slippers...

Ja... there is nothing really wrong with my memory, but I cannot recall where I hid the spare key before I left on leave in December.

NOTE late on Thursday Night: See my posting lower down this thread... Taylor was not injured - 7 people survived according to one source, one died in hospital later.

[nigelp]

I know one family who lost a son who are now living in Australia but would never give details without consent. Will mention it and see whay they feel about it.

There were very detailed articles - cant remember where - re the slat/flap retraction system on that (new - was it C ?) -version of the B707 and the role that played and also possible disorientation experienced on pitch black night take-offs from Windhoek airport on that particular runway.

[nigelp]

I also remember only one survivor and he was sitting in the first or first few rows of first class up front and just stepped out of the wreckage

[Christo Kritzinger]

Ek weet dat proff Van Wyk (oorlede) en Curley Nortje van die fakulteit Tandheelkunde aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch intensief betrokke was met die identifisering van die slagoffers op hul tandheelkundige rekords. Dit was die enigste manier van doen aangesien die meeste onherkenbaar was en nie uitgeken kon word nie. Dalk sal die fakulteit nog rekords beskikbaar he. Die fakulteit tandheelkunde het intussen ingeskakel by die UWK [Univ Weskaap].

Hoop dit kan help.

[nigelp]

with ref to cjkrit . i support his statement as i was present when the father of the guy we knew who was on the flight told my Dad that his son was only identified from dental records.

[Norman Rogers]

If my memory serves me correctly, the American who survived the crash was a chap by the name of Thomas Taylor.

Norman

[GL]

Googled it a bit - found these on Orange tail

[Dunesurfer]

Ooops,i forgot to post the link to one of the oldest newspapers here in NAMIBIA.They would be able to help from their archives.

http://www.az.com.na/index.php

[noelotten]

I recall that there was more than one survivor! ... (I see GL has posted a media report to this effect).

One of my dad's friends was on the flight. Didn't survive! Several members of the SA Wool Board ... all perished!

Noel

[Captain Gyro]

Just out of interest, it's been a while since I flew B707's, but I remember take-off's used to be with a Flap 14 setting. After take-off, the Flaps would be retracted from 14, all the way to zero in one go, there were no intermediate flaps settings between this.

Raising the flaps at too low a speed would have resulted in the aircraft mushing in, even though it maintained it's target pitch attitude.

Pilot's joke that the Airbus A340-200 has 4 hairdryers because of the less than impressive performance, but the B707 was worse, they were just very noisy hairdryers. Out of the old Jan Smuts, we used to climb out at max all up weight at just over 500 ft/min, and that's on 4 engines. I would hate to think how she would handle with one engine out.

[HansH]

Of the 6 survivors one was an American diplomatic courier Tom Taylor whose only real injury was a cracked tooth. He flew out of South Africa to Europe the following week through Windhoek again.I recall reading that he passed away some time ago.
The Boeing was a C model which hadn't even logged 100 hrs. It was not fitted with a FDR or CVR.
The investigation board went out of their way to blame the crew,possibly in an attempt to divert attention away from procedural or training shortcomings. The minimum flap retraction height was increased to 1,200 ft virtually overnight by Boeing.
The findings were strongly critisised by SAAPA.
The TV producer should get hold of FIELDS OF AIR by James Byron.A very good read and he names all the survivors and provides a lot of info in the section dealing with this mishap.

[ETOPS]

I've only ever seen cockpit pics of that crash, which seemed fairly intact, was the rest of the wreckage really that devastated that dental records were necessary to identify the pax ? I guess fire may have been present in the aft sections of fuselage as is the general norm in an aircraft loaded with plenty fuel on departure.

[Paul#25]

My Dad was on the crash investigation team if I remember correctly. I will have a chat with him about the info he might have.