What happened
On the morning of Saturday, 11 September 1937, an aircraft departed from Thornaby airfield at approximately 06:50 hours. The crew was tasked with conducting a Home Fleet exercise over a wide area off the east coast of Scotland. After completing their mission, the team began their return journey south, passing Newcastle just before 10:00 hours. As they flew further south, weather conditions deteriorated significantly, with thick fog developing near the mouth of the River Tees.
The crew attempted to navigate along the coastline toward the Middlesbrough area to reach Thornaby airfield. However, poor visibility likely caused the navigator to miss the intended turn inland over the Tees estuary. Flying at an altitude of 750 feet, the aircraft passed over Guisborough. It is believed that the crew mistook Guisborough for Greatham, as the two towns appeared similar from above in the low-visibility conditions. At 10:45 hours, the aircraft struck the hillside above Belmont Mine.
All four individuals on board were killed instantly. Local residents reported hearing the aircraft fly overhead shortly before the impact and subsequently heard the engines fall silent after the crash. Despite efforts by locals to climb the moor to locate the site, dense fog prevented them from seeing the wreckage from the town below. The victims were certified dead at the scene and later transported to Admiral Chaloner Hospital in Guisborough for identification and burial arrangements.
Findings
The official investigation attributed the accident to navigation error. The combination of deteriorating weather conditions, specifically thick fog, and the visual similarity between nearby towns contributed to the crew's inability to correctly identify their position, leading to the fatal collision with the hillside.