5 fatalities

1943 Night Training Flight Crash on Mount Skiddaw (AX145)

Keswick, United KingdomFlight

On January 1, 1943, an Avro 652 Anson (registration AX145) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Keswick, United Kingdom in flight. 5 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Controlled flight into terrain. 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 slope of Mount Skiddaw during a night training exercise, resulting in the deaths of all five crew members. The wreckage was discovered in January 1943.

What happened

The incident occurred during a night training flight originating from RAF Wigtown. While operating under conditions of limited visibility, the twin-engine aircraft struck the slope of Mount Skiddaw. The impact site was located approximately five kilometers north of Keswick. All five crew members on board were killed in the accident. The wreckage remained undiscovered until it was found on 29 January 1943.

Findings

The official investigation concluded that the crash resulted from a controlled flight into terrain. This determination indicates that the aircraft impacted the ground while under pilot control, likely due to spatial disorientation or navigation errors exacerbated by the poor visibility conditions during the night operation.

Probable cause

Controlled flight into terrain