4 fatalities

Twin-engine aircraft crash near Rhossili (N5086)

Rhossili, United KingdomFlight

On February 23, 1940, an Avro 652 Anson (registration N5086) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Rhossili, United Kingdom in flight. 4 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 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft crashed into a hill north of Rhossili during a low-level navigation exercise in poor visibility, resulting in the deaths of all four crew members on board.

What happened

The incident occurred while the aircraft was conducting a navigation exercise departing from RAF St Athan. During the flight, the crew was operating at a low altitude under conditions of reduced visibility. The twin-engine airplane subsequently impacted a hillside located north of Rhossili. The crash resulted in the loss of all four individuals on board, comprising the pilot and three other crew members.

Findings

The official investigation determined that the accident was caused by controlled flight into terrain. This conclusion highlights the critical interaction between low-level flight operations and limited visual conditions, which prevented the crew from avoiding the obstacle in time.

Probable cause

Controlled flight into terrain