/ 29 October 2005

Johannesburg pilot dies in plane crash

A pilot was killed when his plane crashed at Cathedral Peak near the Lesotho border on Friday, KwaZulu-Natal police said.

Captain Joshua Gwala said the pilot was travelling alone from Gauteng to Margate in KwaZulu-Natal when he reported he was experiencing engine problems.

”This was at about 11.30am. That was the last time that the air-traffic control heard from him.”

The plane crashed about 3km from the border on the Lesotho side. Police and emergency services were informed about the crash by people at Cathedral Peak.

”The police air-wing and rescue team from Durban flew to the scene with paramedics and managed to retrieve the body from the wreckage. The pilot was already dead by then,” Gwala said.

The pilot was from Midrand near Johannesburg. His identity will only be revealed once his next-of-kin have been informed. — Sapa