Johannesburg: A pilot died when a historic fighter jet crashed during a performance at an air show in South Africa, the owner of the plane said.

South African pilot, Dave Stock, died after an English Electric Lightning jet apparently suffered a mechanical problem at the show in Bredasdorp, about 200 km west of Cape Town, said Mr Mike Head, owner of Thunder City.

"He was in performance when he had a technical problem," Mr Head said.

"The pilot was killed in the crash, but no one on the ground was hurt," he said.

The company's website says the fighter jet is capable of reaching Mach 2.2, and says Thunder City operates the last two serviceable twin-engined two-seater Lightnings in the world.

The first Lightning flew in 1957, and the Britain's Royal Air Force retired the plane in 1988.