About us

The Air Crash Investigation & Archaeology (ACIA) group research and study the remains of crashed historical aircraft in northern England and southern Scotland. Our aim is to preserve the memory of those who lost their lives in these tragic accidents and to accurately document and investigate the cause.

Formed in 2001, ACIA is an amateur research group comprising several members who devote their spare time solving long forgotten mysteries of aviation. Recent licenced excavations have shed new light on the true cause accidents for which no reason was established by the investigating teams of the time.

We have an extensive archive of research material, consisting of accident reports, newspaper clippings, personnel records, photos and crash site survey reports. We are only too willing to assist fellow researchers and families of those involved in aircraft accidents in our region and welcome you to contact us if you have any enquiries.

Latest News

October 2011 - Bellingham Heritage Centre Display

We currently have a display at Bellingham Heritage Centre featuring cash sites around North Tynedale and Redesdale. The display will run throughout October.

September 2011 - ME110 visited near Barnard Castle

On behalf of John Shipman, who's father claimed a shared kill in shooting down this ME110, we visited the crash site of this Battle of Britain German escort aircaft. A rarety this far north, it was our first visit to a Battle of Britain crash site.

August 2011 - Beaufighter excavated near Berwick

Thanks to the efforts of Kenny Walker who has worked tirelessly documenting and locating crash sites around East Lothian and the Borders, we had the pleasure of attending a hand dig on a Beaufighter site near Grantshouse.

March 2011 - F-104 site cleared

Following our discovery of Dutch F-104 D-8337 on the Otterburn Range in 2010, the Royal Netherlands Air Force decided to finally recover the wreckage of this aircraft which had remained untouched since the crash in 1983. Before the recovery we had the pleasure of meeting the family of the pilot, 2nd Lt Martin Sasbrink-Harkema, who was sadly killed in the accident.