Two killed in plane crash were on Ben Nevis charity climb
A PILOT and passenger who both died after their light aircraft crashed had climbed Ben Nevis to raise money for charity in the days before their deaths.
Tony Woodward, 62, and Rob Archer, 57, were flying from Oban to Carlisle after a hiking trip with two friends when their plane came down on Thursday afternoon.
An eight-hour search operation was launched and remains of the two men were recovered two miles off the coast of Skipness, between Kintyre and the Isle of Arran. Debris from the plane was also found on the same day.
It has now emerged that the friends had been due to fly back the previous day, but bad weather had prevented the journey. The bodies of the pair, both fathers-of-two, were formally identified yesterday.
Mr Woodward, described as a ‘gentle giant’ by friends, had been a qualified pilot for around three years after training at the Surrey-based flying school Air First Ltd. In a statement posted on Facebook the company wrote: ‘We were deeply saddened to hear the news yesterday that our friend and fellow pilot Tony Woodward had been killed along with his friend. We at Air First had the privilege of teaching Tony to fly to fulfil his dream of becoming a pilot. his passion, love and enthusiasm for flying was evident in his support and participation of school fly outs and social events.’
Mr Woodward, who ran an air freight company, and Mr Archer, who also worked in logistics, had been in Scotland to raise money for the Shooting Star Chase Children’s hospice Charity with an ascent of the 4,412ft mountain.
They were accompanied by friends Maria, 59, and Peter Ogilvie, 54, from Sunbury, Slough, who took photos as they completed the climb.
Mrs Ogivie wrote on Facebook: ‘Just want to thank everyone who donated to Peter, Tony and Bob for their Ben Nevis challenge. Peter and I travelled up last Saturday by car from London and Bob and Tony flew up in a light aircraft. They completed the challenge in 9.5 hours and endured torrential rain, ice pellets, snow and 40mph winds. They said it was the hardest thing they had ever done and were glad it was over, and very happy to have completed it.
‘Tony and Bob were due to fly home on Wednesday but due to bad weather they were unable to take off and had to delay leaving until Thursday. We took them to Oban Airport and they left around lunchtime.
‘Tragically their plane crashed off Kintyre and they both died. We are both in shock and have been helping police as we were the last people to see them alive.
‘Four of us travelled to Scotland, but only two of us are coming home. We feel blessed to have known you both and will remember the good times, so very sad.’
The families of Mr Woodward, from Bagshot, Surrey, and Mr Archer, from harold Wood, Essex, were too upset to comment yesterday.