Good training, experience and a brief gap in the morning traffic on the R43 between Worcester and Villiersdorp saved the life of a pilot and his three passengers on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Die Burger newspaper reported on Friday that the Cessna 210, piloted by 52-year-old Markku Torppa from Somerset West, suddenly developed engine problems while flying a circular route from the Stellenbosch airfield.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have 20 years experience as a pilot and had never previously experienced engine problems,\u201d Torppa said.<\/p>\n
Three passengers \u2013 a visitor from Perth, Australia and two from Cape Town \u2013 were also on board.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a choice. Either I would show them the winelands or Cape Point. Fortunately the wind was too strong in the Cape \u2013 having engine problems above the sea is not good.\u201d<\/p>\n
The plane was at an altitude of 2 000 feet \u2013 about 600m \u2013 when Torppa noticed the engine did not have power and saw smoke pouring out of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was not worried, because pilots are actually trained to handle such situations. I just concentrated on landing.\u201d \u2013 Sapa<\/p>\n<\/p>\n