A PLANE crash that claimed the life of pilot Dave Stott at an air show in Bredasdorp in the southern Cape on Saturday could also have killed a member of the audience had the mechanical failures occurred on the supersonic Lightning jet trainer’s planned second flight of the day.

Organisers of the show at Overberg Air Force Base had planned a lucky draw as an added attraction for the public to attend the bi-annual air display. The winning ticket holder would have received a free flight in the Lightning jet later on the day.

The fatal accident occurred just before midday when Stott reported a hydraulic failure soon after beginning his solo display. Spectators, many of whom were following the events via handheld aircraft frequency radios, heard him use the universal emergency alert “Pan Pan”.

Stott said “Pan Pan” three times about five minutes into the flight and then reported the failure of one or more hydraulic systems on the veteran aircraft.

Hydraulics are used in deploying the undercarriage as well as being integral to the aircraft’s flight control systems.

After two passes, the pilot was advised to leave the immediate area of the airfield, and headed towards Cape Agulhas.

Emergency services, including fire engines and ambulances, rushed to the side of the runway and a catch net was deployed for an emergency landing.

Listeners in the audience said they heard Stott request permission to eject. After he had flown further away from the airfield, calls were heard in which Stott said: “Can’t eject, can’t eject.” Seconds later there was a pall of black smoke in the distance as the jet smashed into the ground.

The Lightning jet uses a British Martin Baker eject seat which is deployed in an emergency by pulling a flexible visor over the face, after which the cockpit canopy is released and the pilot’s seat is blown out by explosive charges.

The fire caused by the crash ignited a large area of coastal fynbos about 10km from the airfield, but extensive foot and helicopter searches failed to locate any sign of Stott having survived. About two hours after the crash, the base’s acting commanding officer, Lt-Col Marius van der Heever, told the media indications were Stott had not ejected and had been killed in the crash.

The aircraft involved in the crash was part of the fleet from the Cape Town-based Thunder City air museum, owned by Mike Beachy Head.