Cape storm blows Dakota into Shackleton
Date: 10 September 2008
The following article is a rough translation from an Afrikaans article that appeared in Die Beeld newspaper:
By Erika Gibson
The Cape stormy weather and strong winds this past week resulted in two victims from the airforce.
The airforce confirmed yesterday that one of their Dakota aircraft at the Ysterplaat airforce base was blown by 40 knot (about 74 km/h) strong winds into a Shackleton maritime patrol aircraft.
According to the airforce, a board of investigation will be formed to determine what went wrong and if anyone could be held responsible for the incident.
The base has been in turmoil these last few weeks in preparation for the Africa Aerospace & Defence- (AAD) which will begin in two weeks (sic).
Most of the aircraft have been taken out of their hangars so that stalls can be erected.
The Dakota and Shackleton, which is not used operationally anymore, were parked on a new cement hardstanding.
According to the airforce, they parked ion a north-westerly direction as that is the normal prevailing direction of storm winds in Cape Town.
They separated by 30 m and there were wheel chocks on all the wheels to prevent movement. Both had their parking brakes on.
The wind had other plans and because anchoring points had not yet been inserted into the new hardstanding, it picked up the Dakota and blew in into the Shackleton.
The wingtip fuel tank of the Shackleton was damaged. The Dakota had damage under the one wing, while it also had a 20cm tear in a control surface (which is made of fabric).
The airforce said that neither of the aircraft was due to fly in the international weapons show and were only going to be part of the static display.
The Shackleton was grounded in February due to age and no longer flies, while the Dakota is in the process of being sold.
As a result of the incident, anchor bolts with rope have been installed on the new hardstand to prevent further incidents.
