Piper Cherokee G-AZSE, owned by Northlink Storage Sytems, crashed on Sheabhal on the Isle of Barra on the 16th June 1984

Piper Cherokee at Islay Airport in 2007

 

Alexander McIntosh Gill Mr Pilot Killed
Ronald Clark Bowie Mr Passenger Killed
Frank Browne Mr Passenger Survived

 

The aircraft was being used for a private flight from Dyce Airport at Aberdeen to Barra where two of the people onboard had business appointments. After passing over the Tiree VOR beacon the pilot descended through cloud towards Barra where they were to land on the beach at Traigh Mhor on the northern side of the island. At the time the scheduled flight from the island had just departed and the pilot of that aircraft advised Mr Gill that the weather on Barra was poor with extensive sea fog and low cloud. At 500ft above the sea the pilot could see the surface of the sea but cloud and sea fog ahead were obscuring the island so he began to climb, it was while climbing on a north westerly heading struck high ground in the col between Sheabhal and Thartabhal.

Wreckage at the crash site of Piper Cherokee G-AZSE on Sheabhal, Isle of Barra
After the crash much of the aircraft was broken up and buried at the crash site, some of the larger pieces of the fuselage can be found protruding from the ground.
Wreckage at the crash site of Piper Cherokee G-AZSE on Sheabhal, Isle of Barra
A further photograph of some of the partially buried wreckage.
Memorial at the crash site of Piper Cherokee G-AZSE on Sheabhal, Isle of Barra
On a rock outcrop which overlooks the crash site is this stainless memorial plaque which records the names of the two men who died.
Memorial at the crash site of Piper Cherokee G-AZSE on Sheabhal, Isle of Barra
Looking from the memorial to where the wreckage of the aircraft was buried.
Crash site of Piper Cherokee G-AZSE on Sheabhal, Isle of Barra
This is the view downhill, and out to the south east, the direction the aircraft was approaching from.