Two pilots were killed in the northern Free State when their gliders collided on Monday afternoon, police reported.
The men, John McLachlan and Dieter Hiress of Welkom, were participating in a race with three other gliders in their group when the accident occurred, said Inspector Stephen Thakeng.
Apparently the two were flying at about 800m above ground near Kroonstad preparing to return to Hennenman when they collided. The gliders crashed to the ground and both pilots were killed.
Gilbert Thwala, responsible for accident investigations at the Civil Aviation Authority, confirmed the accident on Tuesday.
He said although one of the pilots had managed to eject from his glider in mid-air, the action failed to save his life. The weather was fine at the time of the event and it was suspected the problem originated with navigation equipment.
Civil Aviation Authority investigators, who were already on the scene in an open field near Kroonstad, were gathering information from one of the wrecked gliders. There were witnesses to the accident who could help with the investigation, Thwala said. — Sapa