Major General Des Barker and former Indian Air Force fighter pilot Rama Iyer, died when the Patchen Explorer they were flying crashed on approach to runway 02 for the General Flying day at the SAAF Museum in Valhalla, Pretoria, on Wednesday 17 March. An eyewitness is reported to have noted that the engine of the high-wing aircraft was spluttering badly and landed short of the runway.
Maj Gen Barker was known for having the most aircraft types of any SAAF pilot in his logbook, Prior to moving to the SA Civil Aviation Authority Iyer was part of the air force’s training directorate and a regular visitor to the SAAF Museum. He was current on a number of the museum’s aircraft including the Patchen Explorer, one of the museum’s historic flight and the only one of its type ever built.
