No fatalities

Emergency Beach Landing Near Blackpool Due to Technical Failure (N5385)

Blackpool, United KingdomFlight

On March 13, 1940, an Avro 652 Anson (registration N5385) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Blackpool, United Kingdom in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Unknown technical problems encountered during flight necessitated an emergency landing. 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 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

Aircraft made emergency landing on a beach in Bispham near Blackpool after encountering technical issues during an observation flight, resulting in damage but no injuries.

What happened

During an observation flight, the crew encountered unknown technical problems that necessitated an immediate response. Unable to continue normal operations or return to a suitable airfield, the pilot executed an emergency landing on a beach located in Bispham, north of Blackpool. The aircraft sustained significant damage upon impact and was declared beyond repair. Both members of the crew escaped the incident without sustaining any injuries.

Findings

The source material indicates that the event was triggered by unknown technical problems encountered while airborne. No specific mechanical failure or contributing factor is detailed in the provided text, other than the general classification of the issue as a technical problem requiring an emergency landing.

Probable cause

Unknown technical problems encountered during flight necessitated an emergency landing.