4 fatalities

Maritime Patrol Aircraft Crash West of Lerwick (N9678)

Lerwick, United KingdomFlight

On April 8, 1940, an Avro 652 Anson (registration N9678) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Lerwick, United Kingdom in flight. 4 people were killed. 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 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

A maritime patrol aircraft crashed into the sea approximately 30 miles west of Lerwick during a routine flight from Wick, resulting in the deaths of all four crew members on board.

What happened

The incident occurred during a maritime patrol mission that commenced with a departure from Wick at 1055 local time. The aircraft subsequently lost contact and crashed into the sea in unknown circumstances. The impact site was located approximately 30 miles to the west of Lerwick. All four individuals serving as crew members on board were killed in the accident.

Findings

The specific cause of the crash remains undetermined, as the source material indicates the event occurred in unknown circumstances. No further technical or operational findings are provided in the available records.