Tuesday’s plane crash near Wonderboom Airport, north of Pretoria, claimed the life of a gr. 11 pupil at Montana High School.
The school expressed its condolences to Anika de Beer’s family and friends on Wednesday morning on Facebook. “Anika had completed her solo flight a few days before, which was one of her dreams,” says the school’s entry.
NewsliteSA earlier reported that a female apprentice pilot died on Tuesday afternoon when a light aircraft crashed near Wonderboom Airport.
Kabelo Ledwaba, spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority (BLO), meanwhile, told Maroela Media that the aircraft, a Piper Cherokee 28A-180, had taken a training flight when it crashed.
Ledwaba said the plane took off at Wonderboom Airport and was supposed to land at the same airport later.
Ledwaba confirmed that the CAA had already started collecting evidence for an investigation. A preliminary report is expected to be released within 30 days, although it may take longer, he said.
