No fatalities

Supply Mission Aircraft Crash Due to Severe Icing (V3878)

Woodford Halse, United KingdomFlight

On January 3, 1945, an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford (registration V3878) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Woodford Halse, United Kingdom in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Severe icing conditions forced the crew to abandon the aircraft, leading to its destruction upon impact with the ground. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft conducting a supply mission from RAF Snitterfield crashed into a field after encountering severe icing conditions. Both crew members escaped the destroyed airframe without injury.

What happened

The incident occurred during a supply mission originating from RAF Snitterfield. While en route to their destination, the aircraft encountered severe icing conditions. These weather phenomena forced the flight crew to abandon the machine. The aircraft subsequently crashed into a field and was destroyed upon impact. Despite the total loss of the airframe, both members of the crew managed to escape the wreckage and were reported as uninjured.

Findings

The official investigation identified icing conditions as the primary factor leading to the event. The severity of the ice accumulation on the aircraft necessitated an immediate evacuation by the crew, resulting in the crash of the vehicle into the surrounding terrain.

Probable cause

Severe icing conditions forced the crew to abandon the aircraft, leading to its destruction upon impact with the ground.