A second Harvard aircraft at the Africa Aerospace and Defence 2002 show in Pretoria crashed on Sunday shortly before 5pm.

The aircraft crash-landed in the veld near the Botha Avenue offramp on the N1 at the end of the air show, Air Force spokesperson Martie Visser confirmed.

The plane apparently developed engine trouble shortly after take-off and the pilot and co-pilot ejected safely from the plane.

All Harvard aircraft leaving the show have been grounded.

Earlier on the same day, another Harvard at the show crashed into a hillside just south of the Rietvlei nature reserve in Centurion when its engine apparently stalled, a Sapa correspondent reported from the scene.

The aircraft hit a powerline and a tree before ploughing into the ground.

An eyewitness then reported an explosion, which caused a veld fire. Another witness saw the pilot jump out of the aircraft when it hit the powerline and run downhill.

The pilot, identified by organisers as Colonel Jeff Earle, a SA Air Force Reserve officer, was treated by paramedics before being rushed to 1 Military Hospital in a stable condition.

The incident occurred while the Harvard, T6G 7728, was formatting with three other Harvards in a holding area above Rietvlei prior to a Heritage Flight performance .

The Harvard served as a basic training platform for generations of SAAF pilots before being retired in the early 1990s.

Two parachutists injured in exercise

The show organisers have also announced that the condition of the two parachutists who were injured in a parachute drop exercise on Saturday have improved.

Private T.H. Mdleleni was released from 1 Military Hospital on Sunday morning and Private S. D. Magidela who suffered spinal injuries has been moved out of the Intensive Care Unit.

Both parachutists are from 44 Parachute Brigade from Tempe, Bloemfontein. An investigation team will be appointed by the South African National Defence Force to determine the cause of the incidents.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and www.iafrica.co.za