What happened
The incident occurred during a flight from RAF Kinloss to RAF Kirkbride. While traversing the Pennines Mountain Range east of Penrith, the pilot encountered deteriorating weather conditions characterized by significant icing. In response to these hazards, the pilot altered the planned route to pass through the Alston valley. Shortly after this deviation, while maintaining cruise altitude in conditions of limited visibility, the twin engine airplane collided with the slope of Mt Cross Fell. Following the impact, the aircraft slid down the terrain for several dozen meters before coming to a complete stop. All five individuals on board sustained injuries.
Findings
The official investigation determined that the accident resulted from a controlled flight into terrain.