No fatalities

Twin-engine aircraft crash lands at RAF Tangmere after impact with flare (K6314)

Tangmere AFB, United KingdomLanding (descent or approach)

On January 24, 1939, an Avro 652 Anson (registration K6314) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Tangmere AFB, United Kingdom during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of control upon landing after being hit by a flare on 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 aircraft suffered a crash landing and fire at RAF Tangmere after being struck by a flare during final approach, resulting in injuries to all three crew members.

What happened

During the final approach phase to RAF Tangmere, a twin engine aircraft encountered an unexpected hazard. The airframe was struck by a flare while on glide path. Following this impact, the pilot executed a crash landing onto the runway. Upon touchdown, the aircraft immediately burst into flames.

The emergency resulted in significant structural damage to the airframe, rendering it damaged beyond repair. All three individuals aboard the aircraft sustained injuries during the incident. No fatalities were reported among the crew members.

Findings

Official investigations identified the sequence of events leading to the accident. The primary contributing factor was the loss of control experienced by the pilot upon landing. This loss of control was directly attributed to the impact with the flare during the approach phase.

Probable cause

Loss of control upon landing after being hit by a flare on approach.