What happened
The aircraft departed RAF Defford with the objective of traveling to RAF Boscombe Down. The mission involved collecting a second Avro 652 Anson for delivery. While maintaining a cruising altitude of 2,000 feet, the twin-engine airplane experienced a sudden loss of control. The aircraft subsequently dove toward the ground and impacted a field in the vicinity of Cirencester. All six individuals on board were killed in the accident.
Findings
Investigation determined that the loss of control was triggered by a structural failure. Specifically, the fabric covering on the right wing detached from the underlying structure while the aircraft was in flight.