picture 173096

This Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six originally carried the registration ZS-ELE, and was operated by Roy and Shelagh Anderson and Solly Bematar. On 19 February 1973, while being flown by Geoff York, with Roy Anderson as observer, and four army officers on a visit to the Centenary area, it crashed on takeoff from Charles Prince Airport. The reason for the crash was insufficient airspeed: the pilot managed an emergency landing after avoiding obstacles at the end of the runway, preventing heavier damage. John Plan of Techair Ltd completely rebuilt the airframe and VP-YRS was still airworthy as of 1980. (Artwork by Leon Manoucherians)