Auster J/1N Alpha G-AGYM near Hipperholme.
On Saturday, 14th November 1970 this aircraft failed to clear trees on take off from a field near Hipperholme, west of Halifax, with the field being described as soft and difficult. The aircraft crashed into a small wood off Denholme Gate Lane and two of the three persons on board sustained injuries. The last named below escaped without injury and went for help at a farm. The incident is mentioned in local newspapers which gave the location as given above. There was an airfield at "Shelf" at the time and Yorkshire Air News, that mentioned this incident, stated the mishap occurred there. Shelf airfield may have been at a site just east of Northowram but the description of the crash location given in thew newspapers does not point to it actually been on the airstrip site itself. With the field being described as soft and difficult it had possibly landed in a field nearby prior to this incident then occurring.
Pilot - Mr David Michael Whitham.
Passenger - Mr William Neville Eastwood.
Passenger - Mr James Eaton.
G-AGYM was registered to Messers David Michael Whitham (of Crosland Airfield), William Neville Eastwood (of Ogden, Halifax), Donald Joseph Westerside (of Halifax) and Peter Cawkhill (of Bingley). It was probably housed at Crosland Moor airfield.