AN EASTER holiday trip turned to tragedy when a young couple died after their private plane crashed into an Argyll hillside.

 

David Rous and his wife Margaret Ann, of Newport-on-Tay, were flying from Dundee to spend the weekend with family on the isle of Tiree, when the accident happened.

Their PA28 Piper Cherokee light aircraft crashed into a remote hillside at Bein Nan Lus, near Oban on Saturday afternoon.

The alarm was raised after the plane vanished from radar at 1.50pm and a huge air, land and sea search for the missing aircraft led to the discovery of the couple's bodies just over six hours later.

Initial eyewitness accounts had suggested the aircraft may have plunged into Loch Etive.

Mrs Rous, 37, was the daughter of Catriona Maclean, a widow, and has one sister, Joanne MacLean, who both live on Tiree.

She was said to have become a "much-loved GP" in Dundee, while her husband was described as a talented structural engineer.

Dr John Holliday, the doctor on Tiree for almost 30 years and convener of Tiree Community Council, said: "I had known Margaret Ann since the 1980s. She captivated everyone that knew her; she was absolutely gorgeous in every way.

"She became a much-loved GP in Dundee and I have no doubt that she was a wonderful doctor with her charm and great empathy.

"She immediately touched the hearts of everyone who came into contact with her."

Dr Holliday added that he had also met Mr Rous, 28, when he had visited Tiree and added: "He was a really nice man and a very talented structural engineer with a bright professional career ahead of him. Together they made a fine couple.

"We can only imagine what the family must be suffering. A cloud has fallen over Tiree, but the island community will come together as it always does at times like this."

John Macaskill, vice convener of Tiree Community Council, added: "It's absolutely tragic what has happened, it's very sad, especially with them coming home for Easter. It's a major blow for the community.

"Family and friends, as is done in Tiree, will gather round to support Mrs Maclean in her grief."

Yesterday an incident base remained on site at Inverawe. An inquiry will be launched by experts from the Air Accident Investigation Branch to determine to cause of the tragedy.

Chief Inspector Fergus Byrne, who is leading the police investigation, said the recovery operation was hampered by the remote location of the crash site.

He said: "Specialist officers are at the scene and every effort is being made to recover the victims, investigate the circumstances then remove the wreckage of the plane, however, the area is very remote and the crash site extensive and as such it will take a considerable amount of time to complete our work."

Aviation expert David Howitt, who retired recently after managing the small airfield at Glenforsa, on the isle of Mull for 50 years, said the aircraft appeared to have been on the normal route course for flight travel between Dundee and Tiree.

He said: "I have a friend who comes from Dundee to Tiree, it's a fair old way, about 130 nautical miles, and the plane was smack on course, you would fly over from Tyndrum and come across the top of Loch Etive and then across the Sound of Mull.

"I have been taking weather readings here for fifty years and on Saturday the weather was very, very dubious, there was some very poor visibility."

He said the Cherokee aircraft the couple were flying in was renowned as one of the most reliable light aircrafts and was often used for training purposes.

However, Mr Howitt added that one possibility may have been that the plane had been flying above the cloud level and had dropped down into the clouds due to engine failure.