Piper Cherokee G-AZYP crashed on Illgill Head above Wastwater on the 25th March 1973

Piper Cherokee at Islay Airport in 2007

 

Mr Graham George Austin Pilot Killed
Mr Stephen Roy Rogerson Passenger Killed
Mr Mervyn Douglas Chappell Passenger Killed
Mr Anthony Roger Williams Passenger Killed

 

On the 24th March 1973 a party of 20 set out from Blackpool in six aircraft to Kirkbride on the Solway coast of Cumbria to attend a social gathering at the White Heather Club. They stayed overnight at the hotel adjacent to the airfield, planning to return to Blackpool the following morning. During breakfast a weather report was obtained from Blackpool, Kirkbride had no ATC or Met facilities, and the group discussed the weather and the need to avoid flying into clouds while following the coast south as they would probably contain an unseen ‘hard centre’.

G-AZYP was the third of the aircraft to take off at about 10:00, Mr Austin briefly spoke to another aircraft by radio and was seen by the occupants of a third. They reported that after flying close together G-AZYP descended and made a turn inland towards the cloud covered high ground, it was seen flying low over the outlying hills, probably so the four occupants could do some sight-seeing. It was last seen passing over a ridge, shortly before 10:30 people in Wasdale heard an aircraft approaching followed by the sound of an impact. A witness saw rocks cascading down the scree slopes below Illgill Head, though the upper slopes were obscured by low cloud. A search party was gathered and before long wreckage was discovered on Illgill Head.

The aircraft had impacted approximately 50 feet below the top of the hill and fallen back down the steep crags onto the very top of the screes where there was sign of a brief fire, all four occupants had died upon impact.

The view towards Wastwater from the crash site of Piper Cherokee G-AZYP on Illgill Head near Wasdale Head in the Lake District
Looking down towards Wastwater from close to the point where G-AZYP struck Illgill Head.
A view of the crash site of Piper Cherokee G-AZYP on Illgill Head near Wasdale Head in the Lake District
Taken from the same point, the aircraft appears to have struck the crags towards the left hand side of the photograph.
Wreckage close to the crash site of Piper Cherokee G-AZYP on Illgill Head above Wastwater, Wasdale
This is one of the pieces we found which still bears Piper markings.
Wreckage close to the crash site of Piper Cherokee G-AZYP on Illgill Head above Wastwater, Wasdale
Lower down on the screes above Wastwater were some pieces which had parts of the aircraft’s registration on them, this panel has part of a Z on it.
Wreckage close to the crash site of Piper Cherokee G-AZYP on Illgill Head above Wastwater, Wasdale
In one collection of wreckage were part of the rudder pedals from the aircraft, the mounting bracket is in the centre with the starboard pedal from the left-hand set and port pedal from the right-hand set still attached.
Wreckage close to the crash site of Piper Cherokee G-AZYP on Illgill Head above Wastwater, Wasdale
This is the collection of wreckage with the rudder pedals, also another panel with part of the registration on it was found here and a further piece is on the grassy slope beyond.
Wreckage close to the crash site of Piper Cherokee G-AZYP on Illgill Head above Wastwater, Wasdale
A view up towards the impact area from mid-way up the scree slope.
Wreckage close to the crash site of Piper Cherokee G-AZYP on Illgill Head above Wastwater, Wasdale
Part of a seat from the aircraft, other sections of seat frame lay elsewhere on the slope.
Wreckage close to the crash site of Piper Cherokee G-AZYP on Illgill Head above Wastwater, Wasdale
The largest remaining piece of wreckage is most of the port wing, still with the undercarriage attached, this has been buried under rocks.
Wreckage close to the crash site of Piper Cherokee G-AZYP on Illgill Head above Wastwater, Wasdale
A second photograph showing the remains of the port wing.
Wreckage close to the crash site of Piper Cherokee G-AZYP on Illgill Head above Wastwater, Wasdale
This third photograph of the wing shows its full extent under the rocks.
Wreckage close to the crash site of Piper Cherokee G-AZYP on Illgill Head above Wastwater, Wasdale
Among the lowest pieces of wreckage we saw are the remains of the tail. Both tailplanes and the base of the fin are still present, again partly buried by rocks.