What happened
The crew was operating a charter flight originating from Blackpool with an intermediate stop at RAF Walney Island in Cumbria. The intended final destination was Douglas-Ronaldsway Airport on the Isle of Man. During the approach phase to the island, the crew encountered deteriorating weather conditions that prevented them from visually acquiring the airport. Unable to establish a visual fix or locate the facility, the flight continued westward toward Ireland.
Shortly after passing the intended landing area, the pilot determined that the remaining fuel reserves were insufficient to reach an alternative airfield. Consequently, the decision was made to ditch the aircraft into the Irish Sea near Port Erin. The plane came to rest several miles offshore and remained afloat for a period, allowing the occupants to move onto the wings to await assistance. A nearby boat crew rescued all nine occupants before the aircraft sank and was lost.
Findings
Official investigations indicated that the primary issue was the crew's inability to locate the island during the initial approach, attributed to faulty navigation. Additionally, it was noted that an incorrect QDM (Quadrantal Direction Magnetic) provided by air traffic control in Ronaldsway likely contributed to the accident, although this error was corrected approximately one minute after it was issued.