The wreckage of the gyrocopter that went missing two days ago after taking off from Mbombela, Mpumalanga, was found near Louis Trichardt, Limpopo, yesterday afternoon.

The pilot, Gerhardus Minnaar, sustained fatal injuries in the crash. He was the only occupant.

Gregory Critchley, the chief of operations at the Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre (ARCC), says an aerial search and rescue operation, which utilised drones and a SAPS aircraft, spotted the wreckage of a light aircraft matching the description of the missing gyrocopter within the primary search area.

The exact location of the wreckage is being withheld until the recovery operation is completed to prevent interference from civilian drones.

Minnaar, a buffalo farmer from Limpopo, left Nelspruit Airfield on Tuesday morning at about 08:30, heading towards Musina. His last known location was near Louis Trichardt. The ARCC swiftly launched the official search and rescue operation in collaboration with the SAPS Airwing, SARZA, local pilots, and ground teams.

“The ARCC extends its deepest condolences to the pilot’s family. We would like to thank the search and rescue teams from the SAPS, SARZA, a local private security company, and the local rural safety group, Soutpansberg, for their prompt deployment and efforts during this challenging operation,” adds Critchley.

The scene has been handed over to the SAPS and the South African Civil Aviation Authority Accident and Incident Investigation Division for further investigation.

More details will be released once the wreckage has been recovered.