THE SA airforce located the light aircraft that went missing in the Alexandria area in the Eastern Cape on Wednesday afternoon.
At 3:45pm today (February 1, 2014) authorities located the aircraft
accident site where missing pilot and Benoni businessman, Cliff Pike,
was believed to have crashed.
Details remain sketchy as authorities are battling to get to the
scene. The crash site is located in a mountain gorge in the Addo
Elephant National Park mountain range.
Authorities have not yet confirmed if Pike is alive however
reliable sources within the rescue operation have said he had died in
the crash.
Authorities on the scene said that the wreckage was located in a
"gorge" and spotted during a fly over by the SA Airforce BK 117
helicopter that was assisting with the search.
"The plane wreckage is inaccessible by vehicle and all emergency
personnel, police and crime scene investigators have to be flown in,"
the official said.
The Airforce said that its helicopter would stay out at the site to
assist police and other authorities with getting to the scene.
Police spokesman Captain Mali Govender confirmed that the wreckage
had been located however was unable to provide further details. "I can
confirm that forensic experts and investigators have to be flown to the
scene to gather evidence but at this stage we cannot release any more
information as the recovery and rescue operation is still underway," she
said.
Search and rescue parties have been combing the Alexandria and
surrounding areas for the past three days looking for Pikes plane.
The three day search and rescue operation began shortly after the plane was reported missing to the Civil Aviation Authority.
Since then aerial and ground parties, coordinated by the police
Disaster Managment division, have been combing the area where the plane
is thought to have crashed.
Comment: Sad news indeed. It has since been confirmed that Cliff Pike died in the accident. MSBWX wish to pass on condolences to Cliff's family and many friends. RIP Cliff Pike.
