4 fatalities

Fatal Stall and Crash During Approach at Prestwick Airport (K6272)

Prestwick, United KingdomLanding (descent or approach)

On June 21, 1940, an Avro 652 Anson (registration K6272) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Prestwick, United Kingdom during landing or approach. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft stalled due to low speed on final approach. 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 military aircraft stalled while on final approach to Prestwick Airport, crashing short of the runway. All four crew members were killed in the accident.

What happened

The incident occurred during the final approach phase of flight into Prestwick Airport. The twin engine aircraft experienced a stall at low altitude and subsequently impacted the ground several hundred yards before reaching the runway threshold. The crash resulted in the deaths of all four individuals on board. The crew consisted of two pilots, one navigator, and one wireless operator, all of whom were serving as military personnel.

Findings

Investigations into the accident determined that the primary factor leading to the loss of control was insufficient airspeed. The aircraft was traveling at a low speed during its approach, which caused it to stall before it could safely reach the landing zone.

Probable cause

The aircraft stalled due to low speed on final approach.