Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, [email protected]
A 65-YEAR-OLD pilot David Huntley-Walker, survived a crash landing at the Kazungula Airstrip (MJ Air) yesterday morning, walking away with minor injuries.
The aviator was alone, operating a private charter plane, a distinctive fixed-wing yellow aircraft, registration Z-PWW, originally based in Chinhoyi.
Mr Huntley-Walker took off from Deka Airstrip in Hwange and crash-landed at Kazungula Airstrip.
When this reporter arrived at the scene, the gravity of the accident was visible.
The light sports aircraft lay overturned, resting precariously on its roof in the middle of the airstrip.
Critical components of the wreckage had been covered with tarpaulin to protect them from weather elements, and the area was cordoned off, marking the beginning of investigations.
David Huntley Jnr, the pilot’s son who was present at the airstrip, confirmed that his father had survived the crash landing.
He said the veteran pilot sustained minor leg injuries.
Huntley Jnr explained that the aircraft overturned as his father attempted to brake during the crash landing. Mr Huntley was rushed to a local hospital where he is receiving medical attention and is reported to be in stable condition.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development is investigating the accident.
Acting chief investigator of air accidents, Engineer Takudzwa Chipadza, confirmed that an initial assessment was done.
“One of our investigators has been deployed to the Kazungula Airstrip to carry out an on-site investigation. What we know so far is that the aircraft, upon landing or during the landing roll, tipped over, basically it tipped over its nose and landed on its roof,” he said.
“There was one person on board and no casualties were reported. The pilot got some medical attention and he is ok.”
Eng Chipadza said the aircraft is a light sports aircraft or a non-type certified aircraft, and emphasised that investigations were in the early stages.
“We will be releasing more details from the investigator who’s been deployed there. The investigator is expected to verify all the facts around the occurrence.
“However, in terms of classification, as of now, it’s a serious incident,” he said.
The aviation community and local residents are breathing a sigh of relief, describing Huntley-Walker’s survival as the most fortunate outcome of a potentially tragic event.
