What happened
The incident occurred during a routine local training flight at RAF Finningley. The mission involved practicing beam approaches. As the crew executed the final approach segment, weather conditions deteriorated with fog reducing visibility. During this phase of flight, the aircraft descended to an altitude that was insufficient for safe clearance over terrain features. Consequently, the airplane collided with a tree and impacted the ground short of the runway threshold.
The impact resulted in significant casualties among the three-person crew. Two crew members were killed in the accident, while a third sustained injuries. The individuals involved were an instructor pilot, a student pilot, and a wireless operator. All personnel were part of the training exercise when the collision occurred.