The two men who died in Monday’s (8 December) light aircraft crash in the mountainous region of Munsieville have been identified as Tony Fuller and Bennie Oppal.
The accident happened just after noon about 2km from the Jack Taylor Airfield.
Oppal was the owner as well as the pilot of the Beechcraft Bonanza F33A aircraft. Fuller was his passenger and also the technician who serviced the aircraft.
Routine flights usually are undertaken after an aircraft has been serviced.
The news was informed by Bennie’s partner that he was learning to fly when the fatal accident happened.
She was overcome with emotion when she was kept away from her partner’s remains, sending shivers down the spines of those trying to assist.
Jonathan Thiel, an employee at Sureguide in Delporton and his co-worker Ivan van Rensburg were among the first people on the scene after the plane had crashed.
Russel Meiring, an ER24 spokesperson said a helicopter was dispatched to the area to drop ER24 paramedics at the crash site since they could not reach it by vehicle.
Funeral arrangements for the two men are being made.
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