1966 "Logan"air crash Inverness

[Kiltie]

In 1966 the founder of Loganair, building giant Willie Logan was killed when his Strathallan Air Services (?) chartered Piper Aztec became too low on the NDB approach to 06 at Dalcross and collided with the forest on Dunain Hill. The pilot, although seriously injured, survived the crash.

Does anyone know if this gentleman continued to fulfill a career in aviation after this or indeed if he is still with us? I remember his name was published in local newspapers but don't recall what age he was at the time.

[Rainboe]

Is that the forest just north of the entrance to Loch Ness, or the one just south of the airport? Out of curiousity, would you mind explaining the reason for the interest in the particular individual?

[Warmtoast]

As reported at the time:


TAY BRIDGE BUILDER DIES IN AIR CRASH
INVERNESS, JAN. 23 [1966]

Mr. William Logan, head of the Scottish building firm of Duncan Logan Ltd., which is now working on the Tay road bridge, was killed when a charter aircraft in which he was the only passenger crashed on a hillside near Inverness yesterday. The pilot, Captain Peter Tunstall, aged 47, escaped with a broken forearm and other injuries. Mr. Logan, aged 51, was returning to his home in Dingwall, Rossshire.

[Kiltie]

The forest is the one north of Loch Ness south of the Beauly Firth and west of the then town of Inverness. My interest is purely for local historical personal research. For some decades afterwards the nose oleo of the PA23 involved was stored at JH's Merlin Maintenance hangar at Dalcross. My friend now lives in Logan's grand house.

I notice Logan's first Cherokee G-ASFL still survives and is actively for sale today. It would be nice if Iain Hutchison did a follow up to his Loganair book of the next 25 years of their history.

[BOAC]

I think he retired to South Africa. He would be 90+ now.

[parabellum]

It was sad day indeed when William Logan was killed. At the time he owned the fledgling Loganair which was committed to certain charters etc. on that day. William expected one of his own aircraft to be available for his own requirements and was disappointed when it was explained that his own aircraft were contractually pledged elsewhere and not, therefore, available to him. It was for this reason that he chose to charter Air Strathallen.

In the eventual financial wash-up Loganair became the property of the Royal Bank of Scotland and it was Capt. Duncan MacIntosh that persuaded them to let him make the airline pay it's way rather than be sold for assets. Eventually Loganair had bases at Glasgow, Inverness, Sumburugh and Kirkwall whilst still having the RBS as it's major shareholder and had scheduled services, air ambulance and charter operations, all thanks to Duncan MacIntosh and his team at the time, late sixties, early seventies.

[Kiltie]

As a flying Scot I was always disappointed that despite my persistence Loganair didn't hire me when I started out. That said, their history still interests me. It would be nice to source some pictures of Willie Logan's fleet in Muir of Ord at what is now the Black Isle Showground.

It would appear from googling that the Strathallan Aztec pilot was a colourful WW2 character who survived Colditz and survives to this day as BOAC suggests in SA.

Strathallan Aero Services seems to have been a charter outfit owned by Sir William Roberts. Whatever became of him when he sold off the aircraft museum? Does he still survive and did he give up his aviation interest altogether?

[BOAC]

Can't help with Sir William, but I seem to recall that Tunstall started ops for Strathallan Aero Services.

[Warmtoast]

If this is the same Peter Tunstall more in Wiki and here:

WELCOME TO (http://www.davewindle.com/DEWart%20video1.htm)

[Big Eric]

The Aztec involved crashed on the 22nd January 1966 and was G-ARYG,I can still remember seeing the pile of wreckage in a hangar at Dalcross later that year.How anyone survived is beyond me,a sad day indeed.

[Kiltie]

A photograph of G-ARYG taken 3 years before the crash can be found on Welcome to Air-Britain (http://www.air-britain.com/)

Sorry I can't post a direct link.

There's also a Flight article on Strathallan Air Services here

air charter | flight international | strathallan castle | 1964 | 2301 | Flight Archive (http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1964/1964%20-%202301.html)

Interestingly they promote their Helio Courier as available to any client who can maintain a strip of 200 yds x 20 yds!!!

[Ryan Newborn]

Peter is a very good family friend of ours. In fact , Peter and my grandfather escaped together from a POW camp during WW2. Peter is very well and currently lives in Knysnsa, a tourist destination town on the South Coast of South Africa

[virginblue]

My excuses for bringing this thread up again but after having read Scott Grier's book on 50 years Loganair with a couple of references to Willie Logan using an airstrip at Muir of Ord, I was wondering if someone can provide some more information on that airstrip. Was it exclusively used by Logan and/or owned by him or his company? I assume it was located somewhere inside the A862 / B9169 / A832 street triangle and thus rather limited in size?

I guess those were the days when you used your own airstrip because Inverness airport was 20 miles away.

[scotbill]

Weird coincidence dept:

It was announced in the Telegraph on Tuesday that Squadron Leader Peter Tunstall died on July 27th at the age of 94

[virginblue]

Weird indeed. As I was reading this thread earlier today before posting my question, I had wondered if Mr. Turnstall was still alive three years after the last post confirming his whereabouts.

By the way, the wikipedia entry for William Logan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Logan_(Loganair)) has the story incorrect as it says:

He was killed whilst piloting his own aircraft on the landing approach to Inverness Airport, crashing into Dunain Hill, Inverness, in foggy conditions.

[bcgallacher]

I worked for Loganair 1965 to 1967 as an LAE - Duncan Mackintosh was an absolute inspiration to us.I have now retired after a 40 year career and have never forgotten him - a gentleman in every way. I believe that the death of Willie Logan was due to the approach being 180 deg. out.Willie chartered the aircraft against Macs advice - he told him to take the train.

[Tomg89]

G-ASFL is still going strong! Interested to know more from those that know her!

[Kiltie]

I understand Willie Logan's Muir of Ord strip was on the site of the Black Isle show ground today.