Normal operation resumed at Pretoria’s Wonderboom Airport on Wednesday a day after two planes collided, critically injuring three people, the City of Tshwane said.
Spokesperson Console Tleane said the runway was cleared and opened at 10am following Tuesday’s accident between two light aircraft, a Jabiru and a Piper.
“One of the three people injured is much better in the Steve Biko Academic hospital. Two remain critical in the Montana hospital,” said Tleane.
Information gathered this far suggests that a student pilot, with the help of an instructor, was practising landing and taking off manoeuvres in the Jabiru when the accident occurred around 5.43pm, the Civil Aviation Authority said.
Both aircraft were intending to land on runway 29 with the Piper following the Jaburi.
“It would seem that the Piper, with only a pilot on board, caught up with the Jaburi before the latter could take off from the runway. Regrettably, the two aircraft collided about 10 metres above the ground,” said spokesperson Kabelo Ledwaba.
Investigators had already started to collate information to help determine the actual cause of the accident.
The investigation will focus on whether there was compliance with air traffic control procedures and regulatory requirements, and on procedures applied by training schools in teaching students how to execute go-arounds and make appropriate decisions in similar scenarios
The investigation was expected to be completed within 12 months but Ledwaba said a preliminary report may be released before then. –
[Sapa]
