1 fatality

Twin-engine aircraft crash in Southport due to fuel exhaustion (R3399)

Southport, United KingdomFlight

On January 23, 1941, an Avro 652 Anson (registration R3399) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Southport, United Kingdom in flight. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft crashed because it ran out of fuel during the flight, forcing an unsuccessful emergency landing attempt. 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 crashed near Southport after running out of fuel during a convoy flight from RAF Carlisle to RAF Hawarden, resulting in the death of the sole pilot on board.

What happened

The incident involved a twin-engine aircraft operating under the command of a single pilot. The mission was designated as a convoy movement, with the intended route extending from RAF Carlisle to RAF Hawarden. During the transit phase, the aircraft encountered a critical shortage of fuel. This deficiency compelled the pilot to initiate an emergency landing procedure in the vicinity of Southport. However, the attempt did not result in a safe touchdown; instead, the aircraft crashed. The pilot was the only individual on board at the time of the accident and was killed in the event.

Findings

Official investigations identified fuel exhaustion as the primary factor leading to the loss of control and subsequent crash. No other contributing mechanical failures or external factors were cited in the available records regarding this specific incident.

Probable cause

The aircraft crashed because it ran out of fuel during the flight, forcing an unsuccessful emergency landing attempt.