MPUMA PILOT KILLED

A 46-year-old Mpumalanga pilot died instantly on Monday evening when his borrowed light aircraft developed mechanical problems and crashed shortly after take-off. Gary Griffiths was burnt beyond recognition in a fire which also consumed the wrecked Armerod two-seater he had borrowed from a friend. Witnesses told police on Tuesday they saw sparks shooting from the flaps on the plane’s wings just before it spiraled out of control and plunged 150 metres into the ground near Ermelo at roughly 5:15pm. Ermelo police spokesman Constable Charles Nkosi said the plane exploded on impact, preventing witnesses from trying to save Griffiths.