Plane crashes in South Africa

79 crashes in South Africa since 1980, with 232 fatalities. Browse each accident by date, aircraft and location on the interactive map.

• Crashes: 79
• Fatal crashes: 41
• Fatalities: 232
• First recorded: November 28, 1980
• Most recent: August 23, 2025

Deadliest

1. October 19, 1986: Tupolev TU-134, Komatipoort, Mpumalanga, South Africa (34 fatalities)
2. April 12, 1988: Douglas DC-3, Hennenman, Free State, South Africa (24 fatalities)
3. March 1, 1988: Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante, Germiston, Gauteng, South Africa (17 fatalities)
4. December 5, 2012: Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), Mt Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (11 fatalities)
5. December 6, 1999: Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, Johannesburg-Rand, Gauteng, South Africa (10 fatalities)

Manufacturers

• Cessna (15)
• Piper (11)
• Beechcraft (7)
• Rockwell (7)
• Douglas (6)
• Swearingen (5)
• Boeing (3)
• Piaggio (3)
• Avro (2)
• British Aerospace (2)
• Britten-Norman (2)
• CASA (2)

Aircraft

• Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain (7)
• Cessna 208A Caravan (4)
• Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (4)
• Beechcraft 90 King Air (3)
• Cessna 402 (3)
• Piaggio P.166 Albatross (3)
• Swearingen SA226 Metro II (3)
• Avro 748 (2)
• Beechcraft 200 Super King Air (2)
• Britten-Norman Islander (2)
• Casa 212 Aviocar (2)
• Cessna 404 Titan (2)

Years

• 1988 (6)
• 1982 (5)
• 2011 (5)
• 1996 (4)
• 1998 (4)
• 1997 (3)
• 2001 (3)
• 2002 (3)
• 2008 (3)
• 2014 (3)
• 2015 (3)
• 1980 (2)

All crashes

• August 23, 2025: Rockwell Shrike Commander 500, Thembalethu, Western Cape, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• May 6, 2024: Cessna 402, Deza, Limpopo, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• August 30, 2022: Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter), Johannesburg-Rand, Gauteng, South Africa (5 fatalities)
• January 23, 2020: Cessna 550 Citation II, Friemersheim, Western Cape, South Africa (3 fatalities)
• July 10, 2018: Convair CV-340, Pretoria-Wonderboom, Gauteng, South Africa (1 fatality)
• November 22, 2017: Raytheon 390 Premier I, Johannesburg-Rand, Gauteng, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• December 13, 2016: Cessna (DMI) Falcon 402, Lanseria, Gauteng, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• March 3, 2016: Cessna 208A Caravan, Langebaanweg AFB, Western Cape, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• December 7, 2015: Eclipse EA500, Swellendam, Western Cape, South Africa (1 fatality)
• October 26, 2015: Boeing 737-400, Johannesburg-Oliver Reginald Tambo (Jan Smuts), Gauteng, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• August 16, 2015: Cessna 441 Conquest, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa (5 fatalities)
• June 17, 2014: Cessna 208A Caravan, Lydenburg, Mpumalanga, South Africa (3 fatalities)
• April 22, 2014: Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class), Niekerkshoop, Northern Cape, South Africa (2 fatalities)
• February 3, 2014: Beechcraft 90 King Air, Lanseria, Gauteng, South Africa (3 fatalities)
• December 22, 2013: Boeing 747-400, Johannesburg-Oliver Reginald Tambo (Jan Smuts), Gauteng, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• January 17, 2013: Casa 212 Aviocar, Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• December 5, 2012: Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), Mt Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (11 fatalities)
• November 25, 2012: Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, Grand Central (Midrand), Gauteng, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• August 14, 2011: Piaggio P.166 Albatross, Tzaneen, Limpopo, South Africa (7 fatalities)
• August 14, 2011: Piaggio P.166 Albatross, Tzaneen, Limpopo, South Africa (6 fatalities)
• July 23, 2011: Cessna 208A Caravan, Kei Mouth, Eastern Cape, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• February 8, 2011: Pilatus PC-12, Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape, South Africa (9 fatalities)
• January 10, 2011: Boeing 737-200, Hoedspruit AFB, Mpumalanga, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• June 13, 2010: Swearingen SA226 Metro II, Lanseria, Gauteng, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• December 7, 2009: Embraer ERJ-135, George, Western Cape, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• September 24, 2009: Bae Jetstream 41, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (1 fatality)
• November 1, 2008: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, Nyala Lodge, Limpopo, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• October 5, 2008: Britten-Norman Islander, Barberton, Mpumalanga, South Africa (9 fatalities)
• May 7, 2008: Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, Winterveld, Gauteng, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• August 21, 2005: Britten-Norman Islander, Durban-Virginia, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• January 18, 2005: Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600), Cornelia, Free State, South Africa (5 fatalities)
• September 10, 2004: Swearingen SA227 Metro III, George, Western Cape, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• June 1, 2002: Avro 748, George, Western Cape, South Africa (3 fatalities)
• April 16, 2002: Avro 748, Sun City, North West, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• February 12, 2002: BAe 125, Lanseria, Gauteng, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• December 23, 2001: Beechcraft 90 King Air, Cradock, Eastern Cape, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• November 2, 2001: Cessna 406 Caravan, Johannesburg-Oliver Reginald Tambo (Jan Smuts), Gauteng, South Africa (3 fatalities)
• March 14, 2001: Beechcraft G18S, Lanseria, Gauteng, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• December 6, 1999: Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, Johannesburg-Rand, Gauteng, South Africa (10 fatalities)
• October 21, 1998: Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, Johannesburg-Rand, Gauteng, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• August 24, 1998: Douglas DC-3, Pretoria-Wonderboom, Gauteng, South Africa (1 fatality)
• May 7, 1998: Antonov AN-32, Vaalwater, Limpopo, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• May 4, 1998: Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III, Lanseria, Gauteng, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• December 17, 1997: Ilyushin II-18, Johannesburg-Oliver Reginald Tambo (Jan Smuts), Gauteng, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• May 10, 1997: Beechcraft 200 Super King Air, Steynsburg, Eastern Cape, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• March 1, 1997: Piaggio P.166 Albatross, Johannesburg-Oliver Reginald Tambo (Jan Smuts), Gauteng, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• December 13, 1996: Beechcraft 90 King Air, Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa (3 fatalities)
• February 27, 1996: Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, Sabie, Mpumalanga, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• February 24, 1996: Cessna 208A Caravan, Bulwer, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• January 26, 1996: Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, Johannesburg-Oliver Reginald Tambo (Jan Smuts), Gauteng, South Africa (2 fatalities)
• August 2, 1995: PZL-Mielec AN-2, Johannesburg-Rand, Gauteng, South Africa (3 fatalities)
• November 5, 1994: Piper PA-31-310 Navajo, Trichardtsdal, Limpopo, South Africa (5 fatalities)
• May 6, 1994: Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• July 6, 1993: Casa 212 Aviocar, Umtata, Gauteng, South Africa (2 fatalities)
• June 21, 1991: Cessna 404 Titan, Pretoria-Wonderboom, Gauteng, South Africa (2 fatalities)
• November 18, 1988: Swearingen SA226 Metro II, Johannesburg-Oliver Reginald Tambo (Jan Smuts), Gauteng, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• August 15, 1988: Cessna 402, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• May 17, 1988: Rockwell Shrike Commander 500, Louws Creek, Mpumalanga, South Africa (2 fatalities)
• May 16, 1988: Dornier DO.28D Skyservant, Mossel Bay, Western Cape, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• April 12, 1988: Douglas DC-3, Hennenman, Free State, South Africa (24 fatalities)
• March 1, 1988: Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante, Germiston, Gauteng, South Africa (17 fatalities)
• September 20, 1987: Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• April 13, 1987: Beechcraft 200 Super King Air, Johannesburg-Rand, Gauteng, South Africa (3 fatalities)
• October 19, 1986: Tupolev TU-134, Komatipoort, Mpumalanga, South Africa (34 fatalities)
• October 2, 1986: Dassault Falcon 10, Haenertsburg, Limpopo, South Africa (4 fatalities)
• August 31, 1985: Beechcraft 80 Queen Air, Lanseria, Gauteng, South Africa (5 fatalities)
• January 24, 1985: Cessna 404 Titan, Lanseria, Gauteng, South Africa (1 fatality)
• June 20, 1984: Rockwell Gulfstream 695 Jetprop 980, Sishen, Northern Cape, South Africa (2 fatalities)
• February 24, 1984: Piper PA-31-310 Navajo, Klerksdorp, North West, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• June 5, 1983: Cessna 402, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa (7 fatalities)
• October 9, 1982: Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), Graskop, Mpumalanga, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• August 7, 1982: Rockwell Grand Commander 680, Pretoria-Wonderboom, Gauteng, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• July 14, 1982: Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa (5 fatalities)
• July 14, 1982: Swearingen SA226AT Merlin IV, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa (8 fatalities)
• April 14, 1982: Swearingen SA226 Metro II, South Africa, All South Africa, South Africa (0 fatalities)
• November 13, 1981: Learjet 55 Longhorn, Waterkloof AFB, Gauteng, South Africa (2 fatalities)
• September 16, 1981: Rockwell Gulfstream 690C Jetprop 840, Parys, Free State, South Africa (5 fatalities)
• December 16, 1980: Rockwell Aero Commander 680, George, Western Cape, South Africa (4 fatalities)
• November 28, 1980: Rockwell Aero Commander 500, Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, South Africa (4 fatalities)