5 fatalities

Mid-air collision between training aircraft and RAF Wellington near Maryport (DJ239)

Maryport, United KingdomFlight

On May 31, 1943, an Avro 652 Anson (registration DJ239) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Maryport, United Kingdom in flight. 5 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 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine trainer collided with an RAF Vickers Wellington HZ637 east of Maryport during a training flight. Both aircraft crashed into an open field, resulting in the deaths of all ten crew members aboard.

What happened

During a routine training exercise, a twin engine airplane was involved in a mid-air collision with a Royal Air Force Vickers Wellington. The military aircraft carried the registration HZ637 and was operating with a full crew of five personnel. The incident took place in the airspace east of Maryport. Following the impact, both airframes lost control and descended into an open field situated near a railway track.

The crash resulted in catastrophic damage to both vehicles. All ten individuals on board the two aircraft were killed in the accident. The fatalities included the pilot and four other crew members from the training aircraft, as well as the five-person crew of the Wellington bomber.

Findings

The specific circumstances leading to the collision remain unknown based on the available records. No further contributing factors or detailed conclusions regarding the cause of the mid-air incident are provided in the source material.