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17 fatalities

Aircraft crash on Mount Ingeli near Kokstad (ZS-AVJ)

Mt Ingeli, South AfricaFlight

On October 15, 1951, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration ZS-AVJ) operated by South African Airways -SAA - Suid Afrikaanse Lugdiens - SAL was involved in an aviation accident near Mt Ingeli, South Africa in flight. 17 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft flew into mountainous terrain while operating in low-visibility cloud conditions. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-06-14Data APIEditorial standards

A fatal aviation accident occurred on Mount Ingeli when an aircraft crashed while flying through cloud cover, resulting in no survivors.

What happened

On the date of the accident, an aircraft identified as 'Paardeberg' was operating in cloudy weather conditions. While navigating through heavy cloud cover, the aircraft type struck the terrain on Mount Ingeli, a peak reaching an elevation of 2,500 meters. The impact site was situated approximately 17 km southeast of Kokstad.

The collision resulted in the total destruction of the plane. There were 17 fatalities among the occupants, with no survivors reported from the crash site.

Findings

Preliminary assessments suggest that the accident was caused by controlled flight into terrain.

Probable cause

The aircraft flew into mountainous terrain while operating in low-visibility cloud conditions.
Controlled flight into terrain

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 15 Oct 1951 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident near Mt Ingeli, South Africa?

A fatal aviation accident occurred on Mount Ingeli when an aircraft crashed while flying through cloud cover, resulting in no survivors.

Were there any fatalities in the 15 Oct 1951 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 17 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 15 Oct 1951 involved a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), registration ZS-AVJ, operated by South African Airways -SAA - Suid Afrikaanse Lugdiens - SAL, at Mt Ingeli, South Africa.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft flew into mountainous terrain while operating in low-visibility cloud conditions.

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