On the 14th of November 2009 during the Overberg Airshow held at the SAAF's AFB Overberg facility. Following the last flypast in this video, it was reported that the pilot was experiencing control difficulties. The aircraft proceeded west to the general flying area where the problem could be worked away from the crowds and fuel dumped in preparation for landing.
ZU-BEX (former RAF No. XS451) ultimately crashed and exploded short of the runway in a steep nose-down attitude. Those who were adequately equipped to still see the Lightning at that distance reported seeing something detach from the aircraft, many believe it was the horizontal stabiliser.
According to the SACAA report, well known South African Test Pilot Dave Stock's escape from the now unsavable aircraft was foiled when his ejection seat failed to activate. In the report, a fault in the canopy release mechanism was highlighted as the cause.
The January 2010 issue of SA Flyer magazine published a series of photos showing flames escaping out of the rear fuselage just under the horizontal stabiliser. Confirming that the lower engine bay was already burning during the last display. CAA investigators later discovered that the aircraft had developed a fuel leak the day before possibly due to damage caused by using reheat during a display flown the previous evening.
By March 2010 the operator of the aircraft ThunderCity had their certification revoked following the discovery of poor maintenance procedures. The company ceased operations later that year.
In the final portion of this video, a fine white trail can be seen behind the aircraft which is most likely hydraulic fluid. Apologies for the poor quality it was recorded long before invested in descent photography equipment. However, as it's a sight we'll never see again I decided to keep it.
