1967 Vickers Viscount crash off East London (ZS-CVA)

Flight details and crash location On 13 March 1967, Vickers Viscount aircraft ZS-CVA, named “Rietbok,” was operating scheduled public transport flight SA 406 from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg via East London and Bloemfontein. The aircraft’s estimated time of arrival at East London was 1714 GMT, but weather there was poor. The captain said he would probably overfly East London but would check conditions before deciding. The last communication from the aircraft was when it told East London Airport Control it was “at 2,000 ft. with the coastline in sight.” The aircraft was then estimated to be between 20 and 15 nautical miles from the airport, at approximately 1709 GMT. At 1710.08 GMT, it crashed into the sea at approximately 33°13.45’ S, 27°38.3’ E. ## Occupants and rescue On board were Captain Gordon Benjamin Lipawsky, First Officer Brian Albert Richard Trenwith, three cabin crew members, and 20 passengers. Air-sea rescue operations began promptly, but there were no survivors. Floating wreckage, mainly cabin interior fittings, was recovered by naval vessels, and other pieces washed ashore. The main wreckage was believed to lie at a depth of 180 to 220 feet, about 1½ miles offshore. Salvage attempts were hindered by murky water, a current up to 8 knots, and dangerous sea conditions. The aircraft was lost, and all 25 occupants were killed. ## Investigation findings The official investigation found that the available data was not sufficient to determine the originating cause with any degree of probability. The board excluded several possibilities as inconsistent with the evidence or remote and improbable, including structural failure, failure of controls or control surfaces, multiple engine failure, instrument failure, explosion, fire, a bad-weather accident, and pilot error. However, the board could not exclude a heart attack suffered by the captain in the air, with ensuing loss of control and the first officer being unable to regain sufficient control in the time available to prevent contact with the sea.