Summary
- Famed actor Christian Oliver and three others died in a plane crash in the Caribbean involving a Bellanca 17-30A Super Viking aircraft.
- The crash occurred immediately after takeoff from Port Elizabeth-Bequia Airport, with reports suggesting the aircraft stalled before impacting the sea.
- The 1974-built aircraft, registered to the pilot and owner Robert Sachs, was painted in a green livery reminiscent of the British Spitfire fighter.
Four people, including famed actor Christian Oliver, have lost their lives in an accident involving a Bellanca 17-30A Super Viking aircraft crash in the Caribbean, the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force confirmed in a post on social media.
Accident details
On Thursday, January 4th, the single-engine Super Viking aircraft, bearing the registration N4023B, was flying from Derrick, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, bound for St. Lucia just 65 miles north in the Caribbean. According to the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, the private jet took off from Bequia J.F. Mitchell Airport (BQU) at 12:11 local time en route to Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) in St. Lucia. Immediately after takeoff, just west of Petit Nevis island near Bequia, the Super Viking aircraft experienced difficulties during its initial climb, leading it to nose dive and plummet into the Caribbean Sea. According to the St. Vincent Times, multiple island residents reported that the aircraft sputtered during its takeoff roll.
The crash was filmed by someone on the shoreline, showing the graphic site of the plane crashing into the water from a steep fall, which has been circulating on social media. Following the crash, local fishermen and divers immediately rushed to the scene before the St. Vincent and Grenadines Coast Guard, along with military personnel, led the rescue efforts and recovered the four bodies, which were then pronounced dead by medical personnel. While the investigation into the crash by the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines (RSVG) Police Force and the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCA) is ongoing, preliminary information indicates the aircraft stalled after takeoff.
Among the dead passengers were the 51-year-old actor Christian Oliver, his two daughters, Madita Klepser and Annik Klepser, who were ten and twelve years old, respectively, and the plane’s owner and pilot, Robert Sachs. Christian Oliver, who was born Christian Klepser, hails from Germany and was a successful actor in Hollywood and German productions. During his 30-year acting career, Oliver starred in films alongside famous actors George Clooney and Tom Cruise. He is known for his roles in the 2008 film Speed Racer and the 2006 Academy Award-nominated film The Good German.
More about Super Viking Aircraft
The Bellanca 17-30A Super Viking aircraft is a relatively old aircraft; production began in 1968 and was introduced for civil use by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 1969; production of this aircraft model continued from 1968 through 1979. Over the production period, a total of 1,356 Vikings were produced.
Photo: RSVG Police Force
Regarding its specifications, the Bellanca 17-30A Super Viking can accommodate four passengers and a pilot, reaching a maximum range of 1,205 nautical miles. In addition, the aircraft can reach a top cruise speed of 197 knots or 226 miles per hour.
The 49-year-old Super Viking aircraft involved in the crash was registered in the United States to the pilot and owner, Robert Sachs. The 1974-built propeller plane bore the registration N4023B. The aircraft was painted in a green livery, synonymous with the livery of the British Spitfire fighter during the Second World War.
