A pilot burnt to death when his light aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from Petit Airport in Benoni, east of Johannesburg, on Monday, paramedics said.
The plane struck the ground and burst into flames in a field after taking off from the small airport at about 3pm, Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha said.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze, but could not save the pilot, who was alone in the craft.
The scene was cordoned off for Civil Aviation Authority inspectors, who were on their way to the scene. — Sapa