2 fatalities

Night Training Flight Crash at Mount Cairnsmore (W2630)

Mt Cairnsmore of Fleet, United KingdomFlight

On April 17, 1942, an Avro 652 Anson (registration W2630) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Mt Cairnsmore of Fleet, United Kingdom in flight. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Controlled flight into terrain during a night training flight in limited visibility. 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 crashed into the side of Mount Cairnsmore during a night training sortie, resulting in two fatalities and one injury.

What happened

The incident occurred during a night training flight departing from RAF Newton Stewart. While cruising through conditions of limited visibility, the twin engine airplane struck the eastern slope of Mount Cairnsmore of Fleet. The impact site was located approximately 10 kilometers east of the airfield. The accident resulted in two fatalities and one injury among the three occupants on board.

Findings

Official investigations concluded that the crash was caused by a controlled flight into terrain. The crew consisted of a pilot, a wireless operator, and a passenger who was an employee of Airwork.

Probable cause

Controlled flight into terrain during a night training flight in limited visibility.