No fatalities

Territorial Surveillance Mission Crash on South Coast (K6224)

West Wittering, United KingdomFlight

On February 7, 1940, an Avro 652 Anson (registration K6224) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near West Wittering, United Kingdom in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The crash resulted from an emergency landing attempt necessitated by poor weather conditions encountered during a low-altitude surveillance mission. 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

Aircraft crashed during an emergency landing attempt in poor weather conditions along the south coast, resulting in injuries to all four crew members and total loss of the airframe.

What happened

The incident occurred while the aircraft was conducting a territorial surveillance mission along the south coast. During the operation, the flight crew encountered deteriorating weather conditions that compromised visibility or stability. In response to these adverse circumstances, the pilot elected to lower the altitude of the aircraft. The objective was to execute an emergency landing in a nearby field to ensure safety.

However, before the landing could be successfully completed, the airframe struck the ground and crashed. The impact resulted in significant structural damage, rendering the aircraft beyond repair. All four individuals on board sustained injuries during the event. The crew members were identified as belonging to the 48th Squadron.

Probable cause

The crash resulted from an emergency landing attempt necessitated by poor weather conditions encountered during a low-altitude surveillance mission.