Beeld newspaper reports flight instructors had apparently said Captain M S Mandaka was “not pilot material” and should “never again be considered as a pilot”.
She was trying to land the plane when she caused the C-47TP Dakota with 16 soldiers on board to hop twice on – on the third hop (landing?) fell into a ditch next to the runway (missing some cows?).
The plane was seriously damaged and would probably be written off. The airforce confirmed it was investigating the matter.
Beeld says instructors said they felt she would never pass her training. Mandaka apparently had to fly 400 flight hours to – eventually – qualify as pilot. Only 180 hours is necessary.
To her defence, colleagues said she was a top navigator. Does this make up for her piloting skills? If you don’t crash it, you will at the very least find your way home. Mind you, she might just be the greatest navigator to take you straight to the scene of the accident!
