Crewmember falls to his death
Date: 6 December 2002
An Air Force officer died after apparently falling from a landed plane and breaking his neck.
Sergeant-major Jan Jerling (36) died shortly after the accident on the runway in Alldays, Limpopo. A post mortem will be done to determine the cause of his death.
A spokersperson for the Air Force said Jerling was part of a crew of four of 41 Squadron of Waterkloof Air Force Base in Centurion. They were doing night-flying exercises in Limpopo. After completing the exercise, they landed the Caravan aircraft on the Alldays runway, which was illuminated by means of a mobile lighting system. He was busy clearing the system when he fell out of the plane. Apparently his got his foot caught in something.
The Air Force has ordered a commission of inquiry to investigate the freak accident. Jerling is survived by his wife and son.
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