Support Plane Down

A sling 4. I wonder if it had a chute installed.
 
Is it confirmed they were flying a Sling 4?

Edit: Found online

"James Pitman of The Aircraft Company, which is the developer and manufacturer of the Sling aircraft which crashed, said the plane that crashed was a different Sling to the one used by the students"
 
Even if they were flying a Sling 2, there is a BRS option. Not sure if this Sling 2 or 4 was BRS equipped.

Engine failure at altitude is a very good time to have a chute.
 
I did a search on the name of one of the victims which brought up a different article that reported the accident airplane as a 4-place Sling.
 
From the Airplane Factory's Facebook page:

"The Airplane Factory is devastated to report that there has been an accident of the flight support aircraft on the U Dream Cape to Cairo Project and that the Project Directors, Des Werner and Werner Froneman, have lost their lives. No one else was involved in the accident. We will be assisting the relevant authorities to investigate the background to, and cause of the accident. We confirm that the aircraft is ZU-TAF, an aircraft which was flown around the world by the Directors of The Airplane Factory during 2011. We kindly request everybody’s understanding at this incredibly difficult time. Our love and thoughts go to Des and Werner’s friends and families."
 
I’ve been watching the thread on the SA forum, AVCOM, where it was first reported. Speculation makes it appear it could have been an engine failure and spin, as pics of the prop show little damage. The terrain suggests a successful landing without power was do able, especially with the level of experience of the pilots on board. The plane itself was originally flown around the world and was equipped with a chute, it’s unknown if it was still so equipped. The aircraft had some sort of engine issue going back a few weeks ago, when a Youtube celebrity used the Sling for a trip around Africa. It didn’t surface again after being checked and the flight went on. The pilots who perished, also had a problem prior to the crash, which had them divert from following the Teen pilots aircraft, who they were supporting. We also don’t know what the weather conditions were.

As is typical, too many unanswered questions. That’s what investigations are for and hopefully sometime in the future those questions will bring answers, so the families can have closure and any airworthiness issue for the type or engine can be addressed for existing aircraft.
 
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