1.3 Damage to Aircraft
The aeroplane was totally destroyed. Thousands of wreckage pieces were found scattered on the ocean floor.
1.4 Other Damage
There was no damage to property outside the aircraft.
1.5 Personnel information
1.5.1 The pilot-in-command (pilot) was Mr Dawid Jacobus Uys, age 49 years. He held valid and appropriately rated airline transport pilot licence No TA 03896 issued on April 18th 1967. The licence was valid until February 4th 1988. He was also rated to fly Boeing 707, Boeing 727 and Airbus A300 series aeroplanes. His total flying experience amounted to 13 843 hours of which 3 884 hours were on Boeing 747 series aeroplanes. Flying time during the 90 days preceding the accident was 92 hours, all of which were on Boeing 747 series aeroplanes.
The pilot had had a rest period of 79 hours before he commenced his duties on the last flight.
