Air crash history- Devils Peak

[Spike]

While air crashes are still fresh in the mind perhaps somebody can offer some info (not Jean please)
When I was a laaitie there was an air crash on Devils Peak (CT) when three air force planes crashed. I remember seeing photos in a newspaper of the location somewhere between the blockhouse and Rhodes Memorial. I was in primary school.

I've always been fascinated by this event but have eve been able to get more than tiny snippets of the same regurgitated info on the net. Even my contact at Ysterplaat couldn't get hold of any info.

Anybody know anything or know where I can access photo archives?

The basic story is they were flying a demo over Wingfield and were going to swing right before the mountain but miscalculated in the misty conditions and wacked the mountain. Two straight in and one higher up after a failed attempt to get altitude

I hike the mountain a lot and am interested getting bearings from photos to figure out point of impact etc.
Back then security was quite an issue and the mountain was cleared of every trace of the crash. When public were allowed to hike there again it was like it never happened. Hence the lingering interest in it I suppose.

[Johan]

Some reading on that incident:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil%2...71_Plane_Crash

[Andre]

Spike I remember it well. I think they were practicing for a Republic day festival fly past. The planes were called Mercurius IIRC.

[lirritma]

I can also recall this. Were they not part of the Silver Falcons?

[ThysleRoux]

It took place in '71, as Andre said practicing for 10 year Republic festival.

[Spike]

Rico pm'd me this link which had two useful photos
http://www.saairforce.co.za/forum/vi...php?f=2&t=1000

I know the date, the flightpath and the general altitude- level with plumpudding hill. From photos I want to work out where on that elevation.
The photos on that site mentioned above help a lot. I reckon that must have been the third plane that impacted higher.

[Johan]

Some more info.
http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/viewto...=80601&start=0

On 26 May 1971, three South African Air Force Hawker-Siddelley HS125 (Code named Mercurius) aircraft crashed into Devil's Peak, killing all 11 on board. The aircraft were flying in close formation, practicing for a fly past during the upcoming 10th anniversary Republic Day celebrations on 31 May. A low cloud base was cited as a contributory factor. The impact was heard throughout the surrounding suburbs and scars in the ground can still be seen today

On 26 May 1971 a formation of three military aircraft, flying by sight along the N2 highway, banked to the right three seconds to late, narrowly missed the University and Rhodes Memorial and ploughed into the side of the mountain. For many years a radar reflector beacon stood on Plumpudding Hill above Rhodes Memorial to prevent similar incidents.

Most comprehensive coverage of that tragic day is in the book Fields of Air However while there is a map of sorts and photos I don't recall seeing the actual co-ordinates.

There were actually 4 aircraft, the forth one missed it.

[Tony Weaver]

Hi Spike,

I was actually on the field at SACS doing a cadets practice for Republic Day when the jets flew into the mountain - we all heard the bang. There is a monument on Devils Peak at the exact spot where they hit - it looks a bit like a miniature Taal Monument and is clearly visible from, eg, Rondebosch Common or the Liesbeeck River Two Rivers Urban Park (and from my lounge and kitchen windows).

[EstianSwanepoel]

This was before my time, but from what I've been told...
As far as I know Devil's Peak has claimed two Impalas. They may have been the former Silver Falcons mentioned above.
Also in my ground school, my lecturer told us about two Citations that crashed into the mountain during a parade or something along those lines.
Not sure if that was Devil's Peak or Table Mountain. I'll ask around. Plenty of ex-SAAF giants here that should know.

[Spike]

Estian that just the story being confused over the passage of time. One crash. Three aircraft. Mercurious

[ZuluCowboy]

Just spoke to my father and he remembers it as well, strange he mentioned.... 3 planes, mountain... bang bang bang.... gone.

[Frans Reichert]

Hi Spike, I know I am OT here so delete if you want to, or new fred.

My dad once told me of to Impalas that have crashed in Riemvasmaak. Both pilots lost there lives.

But what is interesting for me is (and it refers to your post, and the accident of the past weekend) How can it be that 2 pilots (3 in your query) both not see the mountain? Or not looking at there instruments? Do the front man take the lead and the rest just watch his tail.

Perhaps some of the pilots on the forum can help.

[AB Viljoen]

I remember this day very well, I was 11 years old and the commander of the planes was a Col Henning who was my "girlfriend's" (in youth terms) father.

[Spike]

They were flying in mist. They had a pre-arranged flight plan ie to pull right and gain altitude after X seconds. Then on the day the weather was not so great but they went ahead. The mistake was in a miscalculation of when to turn. That's according to what I've read

[Papsak]

Interesting, never knew about this. Maar ek was darem nog net 'n gedagte in '71.
@Tony, I have seen that memorial & always wondered why it was up there.
Thanks for the history lesson!

[Spike]

Papsak don't get confused with Rhodes Memorial hey. That big monstrosity. The crash happened above there.

[Papsak]

No Spike, I am referring to the mini Taal Monument as described by Tony

[C Africa]

But what is interesting for me is (and it refers to your post, and the accident of the past weekend) How can it be that 2 pilots (3 in your query) both not see the mountain? Or not looking at there instruments? Do the front man take the lead and the rest just watch his tail.

Perhaps some of the pilots on the forum can help.

Frans,

1 When flying in fog, there is no instrument to tell you of obstacles in your path. Planes are NOT normally fitted with forward looking radar. Your "instruments" in the plane are there to help you:

• Orientate the plane (i.e. keep it level when the vertigo attacks you. (and that is quick, tests have shown that even experienced pilots will enter a spiral dive in less than 2 minutes after entering a cloud if they their instruments are covereed up).
• Check your altitude (the purpose to ensure that you remain HIGHER than the highest point in your area).

In the instances we're talking about, the people were lower than the highest point. In one instance they (seem) to be relying on exact timing to avoid the mountain (which failed), in the Tzaneen case, it could either have been an altimeter error (these instruments rely on air pressure, and a sudden change in pressure can cause you to be out by a lot of height). Alternatively, they thought their routing was wide of the mountain when it was not.
2 When flying in formation you are so close together that there is no time to react for the "other" planes in the formation when the first one hits the mountain.

C

[Spike]

Papsak could you maybe post a picture from Google Earth showing the location of the memorial? Pretty please
I've trapped that mountain flat (with my blinkers on) and never noticed one.

edit: or I'm looking in the wrong place.
I've already figured out where the third plan hit, based on photos seen both recently and a long time ago. Up at the top at the road just below the blockhouse.
It's the two lower ones that are still illusive

[Uys]

Frans,

1 When flying in fog, there is no instrument to tell you of obstacles in your path. Planes are NOT normally fitted with forward looking radar. Your "instruments" in the plane are there to help you:

• Orientate the plane (i.e. keep it level when the vertigo attacks you. (and that is quick, tests have shown that even experienced pilots will enter a spiral dive in less than 2 minutes after entering a cloud if they their instruments are covereed up).
• Check your altitude (the purpose to ensure that you remain HIGHER than the highest point in your area).

In the instances we're talking about, the people were lower than the highest point. In one instance they (seem) to be relying on exact timing to avoid the mountain (which failed), in the Tzaneen case, it could either have been an altimeter error (these instruments rely on air pressure, and a sudden change in pressure can cause you to be out by a lot of height). Alternatively, they thought their routing was wide of the mountain when it was not.
2 When flying in formation you are so close together that there is no time to react for the "other" planes in the formation when the first one hits the mountain.

C

C Africa.

Why is it not protocol to fly much higher in poor visibility. IE, visibility goed down, increase altitude with 1km.

Uys