What happened
The incident occurred while the crew was conducting a search and rescue operation. The mission had been initiated after a De Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly, operated by the Daily Express newspaper, went missing for one day. While flying in conditions of limited visibility caused by low clouds, the aircraft impacted the top of a hill. Following the initial impact, the airframe slid for several dozen metres before coming to rest near Leadhills.
The structural damage sustained during the crash rendered the aircraft beyond repair. Despite the severity of the accident, all four crew members from the 269th Squadron survived. They were able to walk away from the wreckage and proceeded to the nearest village to seek assistance.
Findings
The official investigation concluded that the accident was caused by a controlled flight into terrain. The combination of low cloud cover and reduced visibility during the search mission contributed to the loss of spatial orientation or altitude awareness, leading to the collision with the hillside.