A British wildlife expert and a former World War Two Hurricane display pilot died in a plane crash in Namibia while searching for wildlife. Professor Alan Wilson, 62, and Neil Oakman, 63, crashed shortly after takeoff in a light aircraft and died instantly, according to authorities.
Wildlife Research Trip
The pair had been researching Namibia’s national animal, the Oryx antelope, and had spent over a week at the Gobabeb Research Station in the Namib-Naukluft National Park, alongside fellow British researcher John Lowe.
Neil Oakman, an experienced pilot, was flying the Groppo-Trail light aircraft when it crashed on Wednesday, according to senior air accident investigator Judith Shomongula. The aircraft, owned by Professor Wilson, stalled or lost power and dove nose-first into the desert, initial investigations suggest.
John Lowe discovered the wreckage at the end of the Gobabeb airstrip, 75 miles from Walvis Bay, after becoming concerned when the pair did not return to camp after two hours.
Investigation Details
Shomongula stated that Wilson, Lowe, and Oakman arrived in Namibia on February 25, 2026, for research purposes. The flight was believed to be the last leg of their study.
“On Wednesday March 4 2026 at about 17.00 we have been told Alan Wilson and Neil Oakman took off to look for collared antelope in the dunes of the Namib,” Shomongula said. “At about 19.00 researcher John Lowe started getting worried about his colleagues who were late getting back to the research centre and search of the area was started. They later discovered a crashed aircraft at the end of the Gobabeb airstrip. Police were informed and the bodies transported to the Walvis Bay police mortuary.”
Authorities have extended condolences to the families of the deceased.
Background of the Victims
Professor Wilson and Lowe had collaborated for more than a decade, developing advanced tracking and motion collars for predators and antelopes. They were leading a project for the Royal Veterinary College focused on studying Oryx antelopes in the Namib desert.
Oakman trained commercial pilots for Ryanair and was a Hurricane display pilot based at the former RAF Duxford in Cambridgeshire. He was the chief pilot of the Battle of Britain Hurricane VZ497.
Friends of Oakman described him as enjoying his work in Namibia and an extremely competent pilot. Professor Wilson was a global expert in carnivores and their prey, and featured in BBC documentaries including “Cat Watch: 2014” and “The Secret Life of the Cat.” He headed the LOCATE project in Africa, studying predator and prey speed and maneuverability.
The University of Glasgow School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, stated that Professor Wilson “pioneered novel GPS and motion tracking technologies for studying wild animals in their natural environment.”
A spokesman for the Gobabeb Training & Research Centre said the facility was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the accident and offered condolences to the families.
The Oryx is a large antelope found throughout Africa and Arabia, standing 1.2m high with long, straight horns and distinctive black markings. Namibia is home to approximately 373,000 Oryx, which rely on their speed and agility to evade predators like lions, leopards, and cheetahs.
Professor Wilson had been Professor of Locomotor Biomechanics at the University of Glasgow and was head of the Structure and Motion Laboratory.
Discover more from Archyworldys
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
