/ 1 January 2002

Flight recorder found at George crash site

Investigators on Sunday recovered the flight data recorder of the ill-fated aircraft which crashed into the rugged mountains near George on Saturday, killing former cricket skipper Hansie Cronje, its pilot and co-pilot, the Civil Aviation Authority said.

However, according to CAA official Andre de Kock, the search for the aircraft’s voice recorder was called off on Sunday afternoon due to heavy winds. It will resume on Monday morning.

Investigators had initially wanted to retrieve all the recording equipment before Sunday’s nightfall.

Earlier in the afternoon, rescuers removed the three bodies from the mountain to the police mortuary in George where Cronje’s brother identified his body, while the relatives of the other two crash victims had not yet arrived by late afternoon.

Post mortems will be conducted on Monday.

CAA representative Trevor Davids said much still needed to be done to establish the probable cause of the crash.

Investigations would entail interviewing witnesses, air traffic control and other relevant parties.

The probe would then focus on the aircraft, crew and operator records, autopsy reports, mechanical investigation where necessary, and an operational analysis to develop a holistic picture of the accident.

Police representative Inspector Elgin Antonie said the bodies were successfully removed around 1pm after an exercise of nearly three hours by CAA personnel assisted by the SA Air Force.

The Air Aquarius HS 748, which was carrying freight from Bloemfontein to George, crashed into the mountain range, north of George, after not being able to land at the airport due to poor weather conditions.

Tributes and condolences continued to pour in for Cronje on Sunday, with the SA Students Congress (Sasco) crediting the former skipper as having been an inspiration to most student cricket players.

”As Sasco, we regard him as a great cricketer who will be remembered as an indomitable leader of our country’s cricket in the 90s, who served his country with distinction up-to his involvement in match-fixing,” Sasco representative Sicelo Mdletshe said.

”To us, he gave a good lesson on what is to be done when you have let your country down. Hence, we won’t do the wrongs he did but we will do the good things he did.”

The Democratic Alliance said the Proteas achieved their greatest successes under Cronje’s leadership.

”He might not have been perfect, but we are sure South Africans will remember him for the highlights of his career,” DA representative Donald Lee said.

The New National Party said Cronje’s death was a sad loss and that his contribution in the development of disadvantaged communities, specifically those in the Garden Route, would remain a lasting monument to his memory. – Sapa