MASVINGO
–
A
small
plane
crashed
in
a
mountainous
area
between
Zaka
and
Bikita
districts
in
Masvingo
province
on
Sunday
morning,
killing
the
pilot.
Witnesses
said
the
aircraft
caught
fire
on
impact.
It
had
two
people
on
board
–
the
pilot
and
his
wife,
who
survived
with
severe
leg
injuries.
Some
locals
claimed
the
couple
are
Australians.
Investigators
from
the
Civil
Aviation
Authority
of
Zimbabwe
(CAAZ)
have
been
dispatched
to
the
scene
to
investigate
the
crash.
The
plane
went
down
in
Nyoka
Village,
about
85km
southeast
of
Masvingo.
Videos
from
the
accident
scene
showed
the
aircraft
among
trees
and
tall
grass,
broken
into
several
pieces
with
a
large
section
of
the
fuselage
engulfed
in
flames.
One
witness
said
the
woman
appeared
to
have
been
ejected
from
the
aircraft
before
impact.
Both
her
legs
were
broken.
She
was
rushed
to
hospital
and
her
current
condition
is
not
known.
The
pilot
was
trapped
in
the
wreckage
and
suffered
severe
burns
to
the
lower
part
of
his
body
“up
to
his
chest
area.”
He
died
before
rescuers
could
free
him.
Police
are
expected
to
release
a
statement
on
Monday.