What happened
The incident occurred during a navigation training flight originating from Cranage, near Holmes Chapel. While en route, the pilot encountered unexpected cloud cover. As weather conditions deteriorated rapidly, the pilot attempted to navigate out of the cloud layer by following a gap in the formation. Upon exiting the cloud, the aircraft was immediately confronted by rising terrain with insufficient altitude or distance to execute a safe maneuver. Consequently, the aircraft struck the ground.
At the time of the impact, the wireless operator was in the process of switching communication frequencies from local control to regional control. This transition rendered the radio equipment ineffective for aiding navigation during the critical phase of the flight. The aircraft impacted the terrain fairly level but subsequently slid into a bank situated between two ditches. This movement caused the airframe to overturn and become trapped in one of the water-filled ditches.
The pilot was trapped inside the submerged wreckage and did not survive the accident. The other crew members, including the navigator and wireless operator, were also on board during this event.