The air crash that killed South Africa’s disgraced cricket captain Hansie Cronje might not have happened if the Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) had properly maintained its instrument landing system at George airport, an affidavit handed to the Office of the Public Protector alleges.
Cronje, pilot Willie Meyer and co-pilot Ian Noakes died on June 1 last year when their aircraft hit a mountainside at George in bad weather. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)this week said its crash investigation might take another six months, but a spokesperson confirmed: “The ILS [instrument landing system] is the subject matter of the investigation and will be addressed in the accident report.”
An ILS sends an electronic beam to guide an aircraft to a runway in conditions of low visibility.
The allegation comes from Paul O’Sullivan, who was dismissed in January as Acsa’s head of security.
In an affidavit submitted to the public protector, O’Sullivan claims Acsa’s preliminary post-accident investigation revealed that George airport’s ILS had “tripped out” before the accident. “This meant any incoming pilot would not have the benefit of a glide slope to bring him on to the runway threshold.”
He also claims the George ILS had been in bad repair for some time. “Although Acsa was aware of the problem for some considerable time, no steps were taken to remedy it. Minutes of previous meetings will show that advice to replace the ILS at George was rejected in favour of cost savings.”
O’Sullivan alleges Cronje’s aircraft crashed after trying, but failing, to lock on to the ILS.
Acsa responded: “Acsa does not have the jurisdiction to conduct investigations [relating to] aircraft accidents. With regards to this matter, Acsa is in regular contact with the CAA, is cooperating fully and will continue to do so.”