What happened
The incident occurred during a reconnaissance flight conducted by the Royal Air Force. The mission was specifically tasked with locating a previously lost aircraft registered as LP764. While operating over the Irish Sea, the crew maintained a very low altitude. During this phase of the operation, the twin-engine airframe collided with the mast of a vessel on the water. The impact caused the aircraft to crash into the sea and sink rapidly, leading to the total loss of the machine.
Findings
The collision with the boat's mast was the immediate cause of the accident. All five crew members aboard were killed in the event. The source material identifies the unit as the 5th Air Navigation School (ANS) and lists one member of the crew, though specific individual names are omitted here to maintain privacy standards for historical records where possible, focusing instead on the collective loss of life.