Pretoria - The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) is still investigating the cause of yesterday's aircraft crash at Wonderboom Airport in Pretoria.
Two light aircrafts were intending to use runway 29 when the collision took place about 10 metres above the ground. The light aircraft involved in the accident were a Piper and Jaburi.
Four people sustained serious injuries and were admitted to hospital.
According to SACAA, at the time of the accident a student pilot, with the help of an instructor, was practicing landing and taking off manoeuvres in the Jabiru.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the Piper, with only a pilot on board, caught up with the Jaburi before the latter could take off from the runway.
SACAA spokesperson Kabelo Ledwaba said investigations would focus on whether there was compliance with air traffic control procedures and regulatory requirements and procedures applied by training schools in teaching students on how to execute go-arounds and make appropriate decisions in similar scenarios.
"The use of air traffic control tapes in this type of accident usually provides crucial information. Regardless, as with all investigations the emphasis will not be on apportioning blame but to establish exactly what went wrong and implement steps to prevent this type of accident from occurring again," he said.
City of Tshwane spokesperson Console Tleane said the process of removing the wreckage from the runway had started and that it would soon be fully operational.
