WINDHOEK – A 51-year-old man and his dog yesterday morning at around 07h00 survived a Gyrocopter crash in which the light aircraft came down in a field near the Windhoek Country Club Resort and Hotel.
Thomas Hipondoka Herman from the Directorate of Aircraft Accident Investigations in the Ministry of Works and Transport confirmed flight RST 2 Gyrocopter UL, registration number V5- UMO took off around 7am from Eros Airport on its way to Anib Lodge near Mariental.
“After taking off the pilot climbed to 5 400 feet but he realised there was not enough power coming from the engine,” he explained.
“Since it was a mountainous area the pilot resolved to make a U-turn back to Eros Airport for a pre-cautionary landing,but after turning he totally lost engine power and as the speed totally reduced to zero the aircraft could not continue flying and it crashed,” he added.
He said the pilot and his dog did not sustain any injuries but the aircraft was totally destroyed.
The Directorate of Aircraft Accident Investigations will continue to find out the cause of the accident and once it is known it will be communicated to the public.