5 fatalities

Twin-engine aircraft crash on Isle of Arran during training flight (DJ472)

Mt Caisteal Abhail, United KingdomFlight

On August 2, 1942, an Avro 652 Anson (registration DJ472) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Mt Caisteal Abhail, United Kingdom in flight. 5 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Controlled flight into terrain due to poor weather conditions and low 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 a mountain slope in the Isle of Arran due to poor weather conditions, resulting in the deaths of all five crew members on board.

What happened

The twin engine aircraft departed from RAF Wigtown for a scheduled training flight destined for Prestwick Airport. The airframe was carrying a crew of five personnel. During the en-route phase, the pilot encountered deteriorating weather conditions characterized by thunderstorms and significantly reduced visibility. Unable to maintain safe separation from terrain in these low-visibility conditions, the aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Caisteal Abhail, located in the northeast section of the Isle of Arran. All five crew members were killed in the accident.

Findings

The official investigation determined that the accident was caused by a controlled flight into terrain. The primary contributing factor was the pilot's encounter with poor weather conditions and thunderstorms, which led to low visibility and ultimately resulted in the impact with the mountain slope.

Probable cause

Controlled flight into terrain due to poor weather conditions and low visibility.