4 fatalities

RAF 233 Squadron Formation Flight Crash into Humber Estuary (K8831)

Bridlington, United KingdomFlight

On August 8, 1938, an Avro 652 Anson (registration K8831) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Bridlington, United Kingdom in flight. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of control after entering an area of cloud during a formation flight. 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

A military aircraft crashed into the Humber Estuary off Bridlington while flying in formation near RAF Thornaby, resulting in the deaths of all four crew members.

What happened

The aircraft was operating as part of a formation flight with similar models, heading toward RAF Thornaby. During the approach or transit phase, the plane entered an area of cloud cover. Once inside the clouds, the crew lost control of the aircraft. The uncontrolled descent led to a crash into the Humber Estuary off the coast of Bridlington.

Findings

The incident resulted in fatal consequences for everyone on board. All four members of the crew from the 233th Squadron were killed in the accident. The loss of control occurred specifically when the aircraft penetrated cloud cover, suggesting that visual reference was lost or conditions within the cloud led to immediate aerodynamic issues.

Probable cause

Loss of control after entering an area of cloud during a formation flight.