4 fatalities

North Sea mid-air collision between maritime patrol aircraft and German fighter (K6189)

North Sea, WorldFlight

On December 6, 1939, an Avro 652 Anson (registration K6189) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near North Sea, World in flight. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Mid-air collision between a maritime patrol aircraft and a German fighter jet. 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 maritime patrol aircraft collided with a German Bf.110 fighter over the North Sea. Both planes crashed near Texel, resulting in the deaths of all six crew members.

What happened

During a routine maritime patrol mission over the North Sea, a twin-engine aircraft encountered a mid-air collision with a German Bf.110 fighter. The impact caused both aircraft to lose control immediately after the event. The wreckage of the two planes came down approximately 112 kilometers north of Texel, located in the Netherlands.

The accident resulted in fatal consequences for everyone on board. A total of six crew members were killed in the crash. These individuals comprised the full complement of personnel from both aircraft involved in the incident. The specific unit associated with one of the crews was identified as the 206th Squadron, though no individual names are listed in this account to maintain privacy and focus on the operational facts.

Findings

The primary factor leading to the disaster was the direct physical collision between the two aircraft while they were operating in the same airspace. This impact rendered both machines uncontrollable, leading directly to their crash into the sea or land near Texel. No further technical failures or external factors are detailed in the available records beyond the initial mid-air strike.

Probable cause

Mid-air collision between a maritime patrol aircraft and a German fighter jet.