Airfield manager fears for worst after fatal plane crash

From the archive, first published Wednesday 11th Apr 2007.

AN airfield manager says he hopes for the best but fears for the worst, following reports that a family due to return to the airfield were killed in a plane crash.

Mike Rowland, manager of Andrewsfield airfield near Braintree, said: "The situation is that we had a call from a member that has an aircraft based here, saying one of his group had gone away and they were due back yesterday but they hadn't heard anything."

A farmer discovered the wreckage of a PA-28R turbo Cherokee Arrow on remote farmland near Oban in Argyll, Scotland, at 3.30pm yesterday.

Strathclyde Police confirmed today that a couple and their daughter, who is thought to be in her 20s, were killed in the crash.

It is believed the family are from the Dengie area and were due to stop at Blackpool, before flying on to Andrewsfield, which straddles Great Saling and Stebbing.

Their identities have yet to be released and it is not known who was piloting the plane.

Mr Rowland said: "As time passes it seems more likely that the wreckage of a light aircraft found nine miles south of Oban is that of an aircraft owned by members based at this airfield.

"However reports seen on the news say that the discovered aircraft is that of an Apache and we do not have that type of aircraft here.

"So until we receive official confirmation we will continue to hope for the best whilst fearing the worst."

Chief Inspector Ciorstan Shearer said: "Our priorities at the moment are to secure the site, and establish exactly what happened and why the plane crashed.

"We know that the aircraft left Connell Airfield in Oban on Monday morning, but have yet to establish when the crash occurred. There is a time lapse between the plane taking off from the airfield and the wreckage being found.

"Because of the remoteness of the site and the difficulty of the terrain, specially trained officers from Strathclyde Police and RAF Mountain Rescue have been tasked to conduct a search of the crash site, which covers an area of some 400 metres.

"We are working closely with Air Accident Investigation and the Procurator Fiscal, and enquiries are at a very early stage."

A spokesman for the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said two investigators have been sent to the scene but it could take months before their findings are published.

The aircraft is believed to have been built in 1978 and be registered to Richard Silcock, a trustee of the TT Group based in Felsted.