What happened
The incident occurred during an evening departure from RAF Cranage while the crew was conducting a night training exercise. The aircraft, a twin-engine model, deviated from its intended path due to a navigation error, positioning it significantly further west than planned. As the flight progressed through conditions of drizzle and low mist at night, the captain attempted to maintain visual contact with the terrain by reducing altitude. This maneuver led to a controlled flight into the slope of a mountain located northeast of Llangollen, near Garth.
The impact forces destroyed the aircraft completely. All four individuals on board were killed in the accident. The crew consisted of two pilots, an observer, and a wireless operator.
Findings
Investigations identified that the crash resulted from a combination of factors. A primary contributing element was a navigation error made by part of the crew, which caused the aircraft to stray off course. Additionally, the captain had limited experience in night flying, with only nine hours logged in such conditions at the time of the accident.