At 09h58 on Friday the 6th June, NSRI Plettenberg Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a fixed wing light aircraft crash landed on Keurbooms Beach, Plettenberg Bay.Our NSRI Plettenberg Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft RAY FARNHAM RESCUER and responded and Plettenberg Bay Fire and Rescue Services, the SA Police Services and MedLife ambulance services responded.
Prior to arriving on-scene the pilot, 29 year old Erasmus Mare, from George, confirmed to Sea Rescue by phone that he was safe on the ground, on the beach, at Keurbooms Beach, and except for a slightly injured shoulder he was not otherwise injured. He confirmed that he was the sole occupant of the Jabaroo single engine light aircraft, and that he was waiting for the imminent arrival of the emergency services.On arrival on-scene our NSRI Plettenberg Bay sea rescue crew found Mr. Mare on the beach by his aeroplane which appears to have suffered no damage except for a missing propellor.Emergency Services the Police cordoned off the area and the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) were alerted. Paramedics confirmed that except for a slightly injured shoulder Mr. Mare suffered no injuries and he did not require transportation to hospital.It appears from preliminary and unconfirmed reports that the aeroplanes single motor propellor had fallen off at approximately 2 500 feet and the pilot had declared an emergency and had glided to an emergency landing on the beach.The pilot had earlier taken off from George Airport.The CAA have opened an investigation.
