What happened
The incident occurred during the return leg of a night training mission to RAF Cranage. While approaching the base, the pilot misidentified a navigation beacon. This error caused the aircraft to initiate its descent over the airbase rather than following the correct approach path, leading it off course. Shortly after this deviation, the crew encountered limited visibility conditions. The twin-engine airplane subsequently impacted the slope of a mountain in the vicinity of Buxton. All four occupants on board were killed in the impact.
Findings
The official investigation attributed the accident to a wrong interpretation of a navigation beacon by part of the crew. This misunderstanding resulted in a fatal navigational error, which ultimately led to a controlled flight into terrain.