What happened
The incident involved a twin-engine aircraft operating out of RAF Upper Heyford. The crew was conducting a training exercise when the event took place. Shortly after liftoff, the aircraft collided with an RAF Handley Page Hampden that was also in the process of taking off from the airfield.
Following the impact, the Anson lost control and crashed in the vicinity of the airfield. In contrast, the Hampden managed to land safely and was subsequently repaired. The accident resulted in 3 fatalities among the personnel on board the Anson.
Findings
Investigations into the collision revealed that the pilot of the Hampden, who was providing instruction to a trainee at the time, acknowledged failing to see the other aircraft. This lack of visual contact during the critical takeoff phase was identified as the primary factor leading to the mid-air collision.