What happened
The incident occurred during a routine training flight originating from RAF Penrhos. The aircraft was a twin-engine model operating in the vicinity of Penygroes. While flying southeast of this location, the plane encountered a slope on Mt Craig Cwm that was obscured by cloud cover. The aircraft struck the terrain, leading to a fatal crash. All five crew members aboard were killed in the accident.
Findings
The primary contributing factor identified in the circumstances was the presence of cloud cover shrouding the mountain slope. This weather condition likely prevented the crew from visually identifying the terrain until impact occurred. The flight was part of a training mission involving air gunners and a pilot, indicating a standard operational profile rather than a combat sortie.