Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain G-BBJG near Horsforth.

On Friday, 6th December 1974 this aircraft took off from Leeds-Bradford airfield at 17.15hrs to fly a taxi flight to Staverton, Gloucestershire. It was carrying seven ICI Fibres employees who worked at the company headquarters at Harrogate but who lived in Wales and who were going home for the weekend. After it taking off from Leeds-Bradford it was heard and seen to climb away normally but was lost to sight owing to darkness and a layer of cloud just above the airfield. A few minutes after taking off the aircraft it was seen flying an eratic course in the area to the south of the airfield and flying in and out of cloud. It eventually struck the ground in a shallow dive at high speed off Knott Lane, Horsforth and disintergrated. All eight people in the aircraft were killed. A medical examination found that the pilot had probably had a heart attack at the controls. It was also felt possible that a passenger, who had been seated in the second pilot at the front of the aircraft, may have been attempting to fly the aircraft at the time of the crash. None of the passengers had had any form of pilot training, which combined with flying in the dark and in cloud, this task would be been very difficult for the individual concerned.

The aircraft was registered to McAlpine Aviation Ltd. and was based at Luton airport, Bedfordshire.

Pilot - Captain Peter Ronald Pitt, aged 51. Of East Hardwick, West Yorkshire. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Mr Joseph Charles Hughes, aged 47. Of St.Dials, Cymbram, Gwent. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Mr Stanley Foster, aged 53. Of Abergavenny, Gwent. Buried Llanfoist Cemetery, Abergavenny, Wales.

Passenger - Mr Alan Creighton Smith, aged 41. Of Creos-y-Ceiliog, Gwent. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Mr Walter Wilmott Cooper, aged 49. Of Pen-y-Garn, Gwent. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Mr Howard Lloyd Bowen, aged 49, Blaina, Gwent. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Mr David Rhys-Jones, aged 26. of Ebbw Vale, Gwent. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Mr Walter Leonard French, aged 53. Of Crickhowell, Brecon. Burial location unknown.