40
recording of all cockpit sounds within the range of the microphones regardless of audio control panel selections.
Although the tape was not damaged, much of the information which was recorded on the area microphone channel only, was unintelligible. Only the last 1 minute and 14 seconds of the 30 minute recording cycle were reasonably clear. However, sufficient data was recovered to determine that the cockpit conversation prior to the sounding of the fire bell had been on personal and general topics only. "Joe" referred to in the following transcription was the senior flight engineer. Free translations of Afrikaans phrases are in brackets. Here again the best available interpretation has been put on words which are not clear.
| Time in mins. and secs. from beginning of tape | Origin | Conversation/remarks |
| 28:31 | Fire alarm bell (was stopped very quickly by the crew) | |
| 28:35 | Intercom chime | |
| 28:36 | Joe | What's going on now? |
| 28:37 | ? | Huh? |
| 28:40 | Joe | Cargo? |
| 28:42 | Joe | It came on now afterwards |
| 28:45 | Strong click sound | |
| 28:45 | ? | And where is that? |
