What happened
The incident occurred while the crew was conducting a training exercise departing from RAF Abingdon. During the cruise phase, the aircraft encountered limited visibility conditions caused by low clouds and mist. While navigating these poor weather conditions, the twin-engine aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Moel Sych, which has an elevation of 2,713 feet.
The collision resulted in significant casualties among the five people on board. One crew member was killed, while the other four occupants sustained injuries. The flight crew consisted of a pilot, two wireless operators, and two navigators assigned to the 10th Operational Training Unit (OTU).
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the accident was primarily due to the pilot flying at an altitude that was too low for the prevailing conditions. This insufficient clearance led directly to the controlled flight into terrain on the mountain slope.