SAAFA JHB Lunch with Wouter Botes on the Rietbok mystery
It's not often that one gets invited to one of the South African Air Force Association (SAAFA) lunches - and when I did, I instantly RSVP'd. There were three good reasons for that: first, Wouter Botes was giving a talk on the fate of the Rietbok; second, I was looking forward to seeing some old friends again; and third - where else can you get a lunch for R100.00? To top it all, the event was hosted at the Old Edwardian Club in Houghton, still a rather la-di-da venue!
Some serious faces
I've heard Wouter's talk before. He is a multi-talented aviation professional - a pilot, test pilot, maintenance expert, media presenter, and tenacious aviation investigator. His presentation covered the story and search for the wreck of the South African Airways Vickers Viscount Rietbok.
On 13 March 1967, Rietbok was flying from Port Elizabeth to East London (en route to Johannesburg) when it went missing while on approach during poor, stormy weather. The flight was a scheduled domestic service from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth, with stopovers in Bloemfontein and East London. That evening, weather conditions were severe with low visibility. The aircraft reported its position to air traffic control at 2,000 feet with the coastline in sight - but soon disappeared from radar and crashed into the sea, approximately 15 to 20 nautical miles from East London Airport.
Nighttime conditions and the underwater location severely hindered rescue and recovery efforts. No bodies or significant wreckage were recovered at the time, complicating the investigation. The initial 1967 inquiry could not determine a definitive cause, though speculation ranged from a pilot heart attack to a long-standing rumour of sabotage.
In 2022, Wouter located the wreckage at a depth of 68.4 metres - well away from the position where it was initially presumed the aircraft had hit the water. His meticulous research and reconstruction of the flight path from various records led him to propose that the crash likely resulted from human error, specifically a failure to correctly adjust the altimeter while flying low in poor weather.
Wouter with Capt. Karl Jensen
Wouter will also be part of a discussion group on air safety to be hosted by the Aero Club during Airweek at Middelburg Airfield from 5 to 8 April.
Many thanks to SAAFA Johannesburg for the invitation, lunch, and warm hospitality. The Old Edwardian Club, in my opinion, remains the perfect venue!
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