Air Show Ace Killed Because Servicing Was Delayed: Investigation

A report by investigators says an experienced pilot flying a 1960s era fighter plane at an air show in South Africa was killed because the servicing of his ejector seat had been extended to after the show.

A report in The Star newspaper says Dave Stock, who had 16,000 flying hours behind him, was killed at the Overberg Air Base air show near Cape Town because his ejection seat failed to launch, according to initial findings by South Africa’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Photos sent in by spectators showed flame in the aircraft’s exhaust pipe at the time the pilot was desperately trying to get control of the jet aircraft. The air show took place on November 14. The CAA report said:

It is possible that this fire resulted in the final failure of the hydraulic system.

The CAA report showed that the servicing of the ejection seat and related canopy safety equipment was extended by 30 days and again by 45 days. The report said:

It would appear as if the intention of the operator was to service the ejection seat after the air show.

During the air show, Stock sent a PAN PAN call to the control tower, which indicates a problem but no immediate danger, unlike the better-known emergency call of ”Mayday.” The pilot requested runway safety nets be raised and asked for emergency services to be alerted, routine when a possible emergency arises. Stock then told the tower that one of the landing gear main wheels had not come out a asked for permission to leave the area of the air show to tackle the problem. Within moments, however, he radioed that he was losing control of the aircraft and would eject. The Lightning’s ejector seat is apparently linked to the hydraulics system, which normally controls elevators, flaps and other control services as well as landing gear struts.