2 Albatross Missing after South African Airshow...

[Warbirdnerd]

Keep you fingers crossed for a happy ending...

A massive air and land search has been launched for two missing privately owned Albatross maritime patrol aircraft, which disappeared in thick fog while returning from a Limpopo air show to Rand Airport. The two aircraft, which had been taking part in the Tzaneen Air Show, disappeared soon after take-off on Sunday morning.

The alarm was raised after they failed to arrive on schedule at the Rand Airport in Germiston, and communications with pilots could not be made.

Air force sources on Sunday night confirmed that an Oryx helicopter and a Caravan light transport aeroplane would be dispatched to join the civilian search in the Wolkberg mountains, outside Tzaneen, on Monday.


By Sunday night it was not known how many passengers were on board the aircraft when they took off or exactly where in the mountain range they could have disappeared.

Apparent sightings by farmers and local residents are believed to be directing the search.

Johnny Smit, head of the South African Aeronautical Search and Rescue Centre, said on Sunday night: “After we received notification that the aircraft were missing, the aeronautical rescue co-ordination centre at OR Tambo International Airport was immediately alerted and a search and rescue mission activated.

“An air search involving privately owned helicopters and aeroplanes was launched along with a ground search in the eastern section of the Wolkberg.

“The air search was called off after sundown, but the foot search is continuing throughout the night. The air search will be conducted with privately owned aircraft and two SA Air Force aircraft at first light tomorrow (Monday).

“All that we have to go on at the moment is the little bit of information received from farmers and locals on where the two planes, which apparently disappeared in thick fog, could be. We are, however, hopeful about finding the aircraft,” he said, adding that the planes were former SA Air Force maritime patrol aircraft. - Pretoria News

Found it here:
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/ ... -1.1117409

Last edited by Warbirdnerd on Mon Aug 15, 2011 11:52 am, edited 1 time in total.

[David Legg]

Are you sure they are Albatross amphibians and not ex-SAAF Piaggio P166 Albatross? You may wish to change the subject header if so?

[Warbirdnerd]

Are you sure they are Albatross amphibians and not ex-SAAF Piaggio P166 Albatross? You may wish to change the subject header if so?

I was only going by the news story, and had no idea the Piaggio Albatross existed or that 2 different types of planes named Albatross were used for Maritime Patrol.
Thanks for the heads up, and thread title edited...

Last edited by Warbirdnerd on Mon Aug 15, 2011 1:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[DB2]

It was these two aircraft:

http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/showpho ... jx&cat=576



http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=137946
http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=137959

Very sad.

[M.P.]

I made a video of that planes some years ago:
http://www.pozefilm.de/video/piaggio.wmv

And this report give some names to pilot and passengers:
http://www.iol.co.za/thestar/missing-wi ... -1.1117863

[Planebeach]

The wreckage of both planes have been found, still unclear if any survived.

http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/ ... -1.1118382

[EK764]

The two Piaggios were ZS-NJX and ZU-MMI.

ZU-ACI was not involved and is still snug in its hangar. Sadly ACI's owner was flying one of the accident P166s. 13 lives lost. The two aircraft were found early yesterday morning and it looks like CFIT.

[EK764]

They were both ex-South African Air Force 'Piaggio P166 Albatross' aircraft. They share the same name as the amphib. I watched them depart.

[David Legg]

Are you sure they are Albatross amphibians and not ex-SAAF Piaggio P166 Albatross? You may wish to change the subject header if so?





___________________________________________________
carpet fashion,taurus love,china map

Identical message but with some underscoring already posted 11:41, 15th August.

More seriously, and without in any way speculating on the cause of this terrible accident, it reminds me of another South African tragedy involving three SAAF HS-125 jets when they all flew into Devils Peak, Table Mountain in formation in cloud with the loss of eleven lives. This was just over 40 years ago on 26th May 1971.

Last edited by David Legg on Thu Aug 18, 2011 8:02 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Warbirdnerd]

Are you sure they are Albatross amphibians and not ex-SAAF Piaggio P166 Albatross? You may wish to change the subject header if so?





___________________________________________________
carpet fashion,taurus love,china map

Identical message but with some underscoring already posted 11:41, 15th August.

More seriously, and without in any way speculating on the cause of this terrible accident, it reminds me of another South African tragedy involving three SAAF HS-125 jets when they all flew into Devils Peak, Table Mountain in formation in cloud with the loss of eleven lives. This was just over 30 years ago on 26th May 1971.

I was hoping for a happier outcome.
I'm not sure why you are still seeing the old post heading.
I changed it after Mr Legg educated me about the Piaggio Albatross on Monday...

[P51Mstg]

Our good friend and fellow Aviation photographer Frans Dely died in that crash. He was well know for his AVPIX ....... http://www.avpix.co.za Hell of a good guy.


Bye buddy.

Mark H

[CAPFlyer]

Identical message but with some underscoring already posted 11:41, 15th August.

David, that was a spam message. Did you not notice the links at the bottom or the "randomness" of the name? The spammers are getting sophisticated, using real people to sign up and then do stuff like that. You have to look at the entirety of the message. If it duplicates another but has some links in the signature block, it's spam. Just ignore it and it'll get deleted. I had already reported both of the spammer's posts several hours before your message.

On the subject, it's sad to hear that this didn't have a happy ending. I have to wonder why they flew into MVFR/IFR conditions in formation instead of breaking off and going IFR just to be safe or finding better weather.

[Bearcat SA]

The pic earlier in the thread is one I took.
I knew pretty much everyone one of the 13 on board so its a very sad time

[Dave Homewood]

What a sad tragedy, 13 people lost, and two interesting warbirds. My condolences to those who knew the victims.

This was just over 30 years ago on 26th May 1971.

Or just over 40 years ago, even.

[David Legg]

This was just over 30 years ago on 26th May 1971.

Or just over 40 years ago, even.

Thanks - original post corrected. Brain trouble, not finger trouble. Can the '125 really be that old?!

I was glad to hear that BearcatSA was not on board either of the Albatross but sad that so many of those lost were well-known to him. Awful for all linked to those that were on board.