Private plane in runway terror

TAKE-OFF terror . . . pilot Malcolm Hill with the four-seater Piper Arrow

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THE shocked wife of a pilot today relived the moments their private plane careered off a runway and crashed through a wall.

Margaret and Malcolm Hill, accompanied by another married couple, had a miracle escape at Crosland Hill airfield, near Huddersfield.

Mr Hill (81), twice president of the Rotary Club of Saddleworth, was flying his party to Goodwood to attend the annual general meeting of the elite Flying Rotarians. The retired Oldham businessman has been flying for 42 years and regularly attends Flying Rotarian meetings.

His four-seater Piper Arrow aircraft was preparing for take off and travelling at about 30mph when the crash happened.

Mrs Hill was strapped in the rear seat with her friend Margaret Hine, whose husband Jeff was sitting at the front with Mr Hill.

Speaking at their Grasscroft home after returning from hospital, Mrs Hill said: “Everything happened very quickly. We began heading down the runway when the plane veered sharply to the left. Malcolm was wrestling with the controls, desperately trying to keep the plane on the runway. But the plane demolished a drystone wall before coming to a halt in a farmer’s field.

“Luckily we only sustained some cuts and bruises. It could have been far worse.”

The four-seater plane, owned by the couple for more than 20 years, was badly damaged.

Huddersfield businessman Carlton Littleford, who lives in South Crosland, was driving along Sandy Lane which runs below the airfield. He said. “I saw the aircraft in the field and I realised help might be needed, so I drove into the airfield and saw two women. One had head injuries and the other was nursing her arm, but they weren’t badly hurt.”

After revisiting the crash scene, Mr Hill said: “You could say I’ve really gone out with a bang. There is nothing worth salvaging from the plane. Thankfully, it stayed upright.”

email: kd_bennett@yahoo.co.uk