4 fatalities

Training Flight Crash in Prairie Near Newdale (6069)

Newdale, CanadaFlight

On June 9, 1942, an Avro 652 Anson (registration 6069) operated by Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF was involved in an aviation accident near Newdale, Canada in flight. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Unpredictable severe weather conditions including heavy rain and lightning during a training flight. 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 military training aircraft crashed into a prairie near Newdale after encountering unexpected severe weather, resulting in the deaths of all four crew members on board.

What happened

The incident involved a training flight that had departed from Rivers Air Force Base. During the exercise, meteorological conditions deteriorated rapidly due to an unpredicted storm. Faced with heavy rain and active lightning, the crew decided to return to their base. However, while attempting an emergency landing in these severe conditions, the aircraft crashed into a prairie located 12 kilometers south of Newdale. The impact resulted in the deaths of all four crew members.

Findings

The official investigation concluded that the weather development was unpredictable. After reviewing all available evidence, the court determined that no individual should be held responsible for the accident.

Probable cause

Unpredictable severe weather conditions including heavy rain and lightning during a training flight.