UK experts coming to help probe Skyvan plane crash
by Shirwin Campbell
Guyana Chronicle
November 11, 2003
TWO international experts from the United Kingdom are being flown into the country to assist local counterparts into the investigations of Saturday's plane crash, which claimed the life of two persons.
Following a request from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) the UK authorities promptly responded and two experts - one from the Department of Transport and the other from the UK Aircraft Accident Investigation Board - will arrive here today.
Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Works, Mr. Ajay Baksh, informed the Guyana Chronicle yesterday that based on this new development several changes will be made relating to the investigation.
Contrary to previous announcements, the voice cockpit recording will no longer be sent to Trinidad for analysis but will instead be flown to the National Transport Safety Board in the USA, along with the engine, for a thorough investigation there.
Eyewitness accounts are that one of the engines had failed.
Mr. Baksh also noted that the parts of the plane scattered along the site would not be moved to a hanger as was previously announced. Instead, these will remain as is for the high profile team. They are expected to commence their work today, almost immediately after touchdown.
According to Baksh, a grid was completed on the crash site and it determined that the plane crashed one and a half miles from the airstrip.
Director General Chabeenan Ramphal of The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) told Guyana Chronicle that investigation has commenced and the team will be further strengthened with the international experts.
Local investigators yesterday visited the pilots and Mr. Ramphal and told the Guyana Chronicle that they are recovering well.
The Director General reported that a press conference will be held today to update members of the media on the progress of the investigation.
The Skyvan took off from Ogle Aerodrome 10:59 hrs with three crew members and four passengers on its way to Ekereku Bottom, but crashlanded in a nearby canefield aback of North Ruimveldt one minute after take-off.
All the emergency agencies, including hospital, fire, police and a British Army contingent on exercise in Guyana, were notified and promptly responded. But residents in the community got there first and did a commendable job of rescuing the occupants of the plane.
The Skyvan was manufactured in Northern Ireland, with an un-laden weight of 13 000 pounds.
The two persons who died in the crash were airline employee Premchand Arjune, 32, of Annandale North and 49-year-old Rudolph Mannie of Kuru Kuru.
Hospitalized are pilot Savrepaul Persaud, co-pilot Noel Bhiro Persaud and passengers Brian Blair, Rudolph Charles and Clive Mannie.