Taylorcraft BC12 accident near Vryheid, Za, April 29, 2018
On April 29, 2018 at about 11:10 am local time, a Taylorcraft BC12, registered ZSBLD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vryheid (Vereeniging Aerodrome airport). It was flown under non-U.S. private rules. 2 people were killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 2018 · about 11:10 am local time
- Place
- Vryheid, South Africa · Vereeniging Aerodrome · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BC12 D · all BC12s on the register
- Registration
- ZSBLD · no longer on the register · serial 7750
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 29, 2018, at 1110 coordinated universal time, a Taylorcraft BC 12-D airplane, registration ZS-BLD, sustained substantial damage under unknown circumstances following a departure from Vryheid Aerodrome (FAVY), Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. Both occupants were fatally injured.The Civil Aviation Authority of South Africa, Accident & Incident Investigation Division (AIID) is investigating the accident. As the state of manufacture of the airplane, the NTSB has designated a US accredited representative to assist the AIID in its investigation. All inquiries concerning this accident should be directed to: South African Civil Aviation Authority Accidents and Incidents Investigation Division Private Bag X 73 Halfway House 1685 South Africa Website: http://www.caa.co.za
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during unknown defining event
Pilot
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: FAVY Vryheid Aerodro
- Destination: FAVV Vereeniging Aer
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.