Peak District Air Accident Research

Percival Prentice Mk.1 G-AOLR crashed in the Kilsyth Hills above the town of Kilsyth on the 30th July 1961.

The aircraft was being flown to Renfrew Airport, on the southern edge of Glasgow, from Biggin Hill in Kent. On arriving in the Glasgow area the weather conditions were poor with extensive cloud cover. The pilot flew low over a railway station, reported to be 20 n.m. ENE of Renfrew (in the area around Failkirk), whose name he passed to the Air Traffic Controller for guidance, he instructed the pilot to stay in the vicinity of that station remaining in visual contact with the ground. A short time later the pilot reported that they were flying in cloud at 1,000ft and was immediately instructed to climb to 2,000ft. No further contact was made with the aircraft and it was discovered the following morning by a farmer after he saw an usual shape on the hillside in an area called The Banns.

The few remaining parts are scattered over a small area on the slope below The Banns.

The largest remaining part at the crash site, also shown in the first photo, is this section of main spar which is a few feet in length.

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