Oban plane crash victims were ‘perfect angels’

Margaret Ann and David Rous died after the private plane they were flying in crashed on a hillside near Oban. Picture: Contributed

Engineer David Rous, 28, and his wife Margaret Ann, a 37-year-old doctor, of Newport-on-Tay, were flying from Dundee to spend a weekend holiday with familyon Tiree when the accident happened.

Dr Rous’s sister Johann Maclean led the tributes, describing the GP as an “absolute rock”.

In a message posted on Facebook she made reference to the Black Eyed Peas’ song Meet Me Halfway, writing: “Big sister, it’s our song, I am going to sing this to you everyday for the rest of my life!

A police officer at Inverawe, Argyll, near the scene where the aircraft crashed on Glen Kinglass. Picture: Hemedia

“You were my absolute rock, and I promise to meet you halfway one day! Today has been the hardest day of my life, I love you Minnie xxxx”

She also thanked friends and family for their sympathy messages.

She added: “Thank you all for the heartfelt messages, phone calls and visits,” she wrote. “We appreciate your thoughts at this heartbreaking time xx.”

Dr Rous was the daughter of Mrs Catriona Maclean, a widow, who lives on Tiree along with her sister.

Neighbours of the tragic couple in Newport-on-Tay also paid tribute to them. One said: “They were very well-liked around here. They held a few parties to get to know the neighbours and were really nice.

“Margaret was a local GP and David spent a fair bit of time working away from home. He had a lot of contacts in the building trade and spent a lot of time doing up their house. They own another flat in the village that they rent out.

“They were such lovely, down-to-earth people.”

Argyll and Bute councillor Mary-Jean Devon said: “This is just so sad. It’s a tragic, tragic accident with the loss of such young lives.

“An island is a big family. Although the girl wasn’t living at home she was still part of that family.”

The couple were described as “perfect angels” by shocked colleagues of Dr Maclean, who worked at Dundee’s Stobswell Medical Centre.

Dr John Holliday, Tiree’s doctor, said: “We can only imagine what the family must be suffering. A cloud has fallen over Tiree, but the island community will come together as it always does at times like this.”

The tragic couple met on Tiree seven years ago and married at Balbirnie House Hotel in Fife in July 2013 and they spent their honeymoon in Venice.

The emergency services had been alerted when radar contact was lost with the aircraft, a PA28 Piper Cherokee, at about 1:50pm on Saturday.

Police Scotland said the wreckage was discovered on the remote hillside at Bein Nan Lus, on the northern aspect of Glen Kinglass, near Oban, six hours later, along with the remains of the two people on board.

Specialist officers and air accident investigators are continuing their inquiries into the cause of the accident. Chief Inspector Fergus said: “Every effort is being made to recover the victims, investigate the circumstances, and recover the wreckage.”