Air Crash

Ron Mitchell.

Can there have been any more dramatic arrivals on Coll in recent times than the one last May when a Cessna 182 (G-BHDO) crashed on landing at Ballard airstrip.

Coming in from the West, over Arileod and after a short landing run the nosewheel collapsed, the nose dug in and the plane flipped over onto its back. Fortunately his ground speed by that time was relatively low and the pilot was unhurt but alas the plane was a write-off. The pilot was remarkably calm and self-possessed about the whole affair which tempted a speculation - was this how he normally landed? No, it wasn't, he had had the plane for quite a number of years - an old friend. But there must have been a degree of embarrassment as the reason for his visit was a commission from the HIDB to ascertain whether Coll's airstrip was suitable for a scheduled air service!

The airstrip's manager, Allan Brodie, was called upon to remove the wreck from the landing strip and attempted to put her back the right way up. Thus ensued a two day wrestling match Allan + JCB vs. The Wreck - skill and power eventually winning the day over stubborness, and G-BHDO was again the right way up - although by this time somewhat more of a writeoff. And there she lay for some weeks, quite a sad attraction she was too. People came from miles around to see her.

Initially the aircraft insurance company advised that Coll would be her final resting place" but alas a large lorry arrived one day, the aircraft mechanics knew what they were doing and in a matter of hours she had been dismantled and neatly stowed in the lorry - "To be sold and used as spares", they said.

And all that was left was a patch of burnt grass where fuel had seeped out of her battered and broken wings.