C210 suffered engine failure Pilot executes superb emergency landing Engine failure was the cause of the emergency landing executed by the pilot of Scenic Air on Saturday at an open field in Pioniers Park. Engine failure was confirmed as the cause of the incident by managing director of Scenic Air, Mike Böttger, who told Namibian Sun that the Cessna 210 with registration V5-JAG was en route from Eros Airport to Hosea Kutako International Airport to collect passengers on Saturday, when it experienced engine failure. The pilot, Wesley Thompson executed an emergency landing in an open field in the area of Pioniers Park at about 13:30 on Saturday, he said
Böttger confirmed that the pilot was alone in the aircraft and that he sustained injuries to his face.
He is currently still in the Lady Pohamba Hospital.
Böttger said that the cause of the engine failure is still being investigated.
Meanwhile the deputy director of aircraft accident investigations Theo Shilongo, confirmed the incident and said that investigations are still on-going.
He said that they still needed to interview the pilot before more information could be made available.
Well-placed sources predicted engine failure on Saturday as the aircraft''s undercarriage was still retracted and furthermore, this is where small aircraft divert to in case of engine failure.
Namibian Sun earlier this year reported that there is oftentimes flagrant disregard of aviation procedures and rules and regulations in particular with charter companies flying the Cessna 210 aircraft across the country. To further compound matters, these incidences are either not reported for fear of pilots losing their jobs, or they are not followed through by the safety officers of the charter companies.
ELLANIE SMIT