On December 21st 1967, XF702, a Royal Air Force Avro Shackleton MR3 maritime reconnaisance aircraft of 206 Squadron, based at RAF Kinloss, encountered severe icing conditions in cloud and subsequently crashed into the hillside below Creag Bhan, above Arieniskil, Lochailort.

All thirteen crew members were killed.

The impact scar is still visible on the hillside, a short way off the Right of Way from Arieniskil to Meoble, at a height of about 700 feet.   On May 19th 2007, at the culmination of a project started by Ken Bowker of the Moidart History Group, and in the presence of four children and one grand-daughter of the crew, Derek Straw of the 206 Squadron Association fixed a commemorative tablet at the scene. Please respect the site.

Shackleton XF702 - Bruce Mackie

The crash scar, 2005

Commemorative tablet installed on May 19th 2007

The RAF Mountain Rescue Team's report  on the accident is available here as a (large, 1.3mb) .pdf file.

The Daily Record's front page, next day - click for a .pdf file.

This is what The Times said.

George Watt was in the RAF at the time of the accident, based at Kinloss, and has given us permission to publish his memories of the aftermath - click here to read them.

Harry Clyne of Lochailort made some notes over the years - read those here.