2 fatalities

Twin-engine trainer collision with power lines at low altitude (N5259)

Kingham, United KingdomFlight

On May 21, 1942, an Avro 652 Anson (registration N5259) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Kingham, United Kingdom in flight. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Collision with power cables during low-altitude cruise caused an aerodynamic stall and subsequent crash. 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 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft operating a training sortie struck power cables while flying at low height, resulting in a crash that killed two crew members and injured three others.

What happened

The incident involved a twin engine airplane conducting a training mission for the 21 OTU. The flight originated from RAF Moreton-in-Marsh. During the cruise phase, while maintaining a low altitude, the aircraft collided with overhead power cables. This impact caused the airframe to stall, leading to an uncontrolled descent into a nearby field.

The crash resulted in significant casualties among the occupants. Two crew members were killed in the accident, while three other individuals on board sustained injuries. The specific registration of the aircraft is not provided in the available source material.

Findings

The primary contributing factor to the accident was the collision with power cables during low-level flight. This event directly induced an aerodynamic stall, which prevented the crew from maintaining control and led to the impact with the ground.

Probable cause

Collision with power cables during low-altitude cruise caused an aerodynamic stall and subsequent crash.