3 fatalities

1971-05-26: BAe 125 (03) — South African Air Force - SAAF — Devil's Peak, South Africa

Devil's Peak, South AfricaFlight

On May 26, 1971, a BAe 125 (registration 03) operated by South African Air Force - SAAF was involved in an aviation accident near Devil's Peak, South Africa in flight. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Controlled flight into terrain. 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)Primary reportUpdated 1781235202Data APIEditorial standards

Three aircraft conducting a demonstration flight at Cape Town Airport struck Devil's Peak, shrouded in clouds. All 11 crew members were killed and the aircraft were destroyed.

Accident Overview

An accident occurred at Cape Town Airport during an airshow involving a local demonstration flight. Three similar aircraft, including one named Mercurius, were flying in a V formation. The formation completed a low pass over Cape Town Airport and proceeded westward.

Sequence of Events

After the low pass, the three aircraft continued west. They simultaneously struck the slope of Devil's Peak, located approximately 15 km west of Cape Town Airport. The peak was shrouded in clouds at the time of the accident. All three aircraft were totally destroyed, and all 11 crew members aboard were killed.

Probable Cause

The official investigation determined the probable cause to be controlled flight into terrain.