What happened
The incident involved a twin-engine aircraft operating on a local training mission departing from Manston Airport. The flight took place at night under adverse weather conditions characterized by a snowstorm. During the operation, the airframe was struck by lightning. This event caused the aircraft to lose control, leading it to crash into a field in Ewell Minnis, situated between Folkestone and Dover. The wreckage came to rest upside down.
The accident resulted in significant casualties among the four-person crew. Two members were killed immediately at the scene, while two others sustained injuries. One of the injured survivors subsequently died from their wounds two days after the crash, bringing the total fatality count to three.
Findings
Official findings indicate that the loss of control was a direct consequence of the aircraft being struck by lightning during flight.