What happened
On 13 March 1967, a South African Airways Vickers Viscount 818, registered ZS-CVA, was operating a scheduled passenger flight from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth, with planned stops in Bloemfontein and East London. During the flight, the captain decided to monitor weather conditions near East London, as heavy cloud and poor visibility were reported in the area.
At approximately 17:09 GMT, the aircraft reported being at 2,000 feet with the coastline in sight. Shortly thereafter, at 17:10:08 GMT, the aircraft impacted the sea approximately 15 nautical miles southwest of Ben Schoeman Airport. The impact occurred in a nose-down attitude with the port wing low. The crash resulted in 25 fatalities, comprising the two pilots, three cabin crew, and 20 passengers, with no survivors found.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the wreckage, which settled at a depth of between 180 and 220 feet, and reviewed radio transmissions recorded at Port Elizabeth. The investigation looked into several potential causes, including structural failure, engine failure, fire, and pilot error. The inquiry also reviewed the medical history of the captain, who had been a highly regarded pilot with over 12,000 flying hours.
Findings
While the investigation could not definitively establish the exact originating cause, the Board was able to rule out several possibilities, such as mechanical failure, explosions, or external weather-related accidents. However, the Board could not exclude the possibility that the captain suffered a heart attack while in flight, leading to a sudden loss of control that the first officer was unable to rectify before the aircraft struck the water.