What happened
The incident occurred during a night training exercise conducted out of RAF Cranage. The crew was performing low-altitude maneuvers when the aircraft encountered obstacles in the terrain. Specifically, the airframe struck treetops while flying over a wooded area situated at Hawkeswood Farm, near Rednal. This impact led to an immediate crash into the forest floor. All five crew members were killed in the accident. The personnel on board included two pilots, one radio operator, and two other service members.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the pilot failed to see or negotiate a large oak tree while executing a dummy run for precautionary landing practice. It is assessed that the throttle was opened too late to allow for recovery from the low altitude.