5 fatalities

Twin-engine aircraft collision with telegraph wires near Tadcaster (EG269)

Tadcaster, United KingdomFlight

On May 17, 1943, an Avro 652 Anson (registration EG269) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Tadcaster, United Kingdom in flight. 5 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Collision with telegraph wires while flying at low height. 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 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft crashed into telegraph wires while flying at low altitude during a training sortie from RAF Jurby, resulting in the deaths of all five crew members.

What happened

The incident occurred during a training sortie originating from RAF Jurby on the Isle of Man. The aircraft was a twin-engine model operating at a low height when it struck telegraph wires. Following the collision with the infrastructure, the plane crashed approximately two kilometers north of Tadcaster. All five individuals on board were killed in the accident.

Findings

The source material does not provide specific technical findings or a detailed investigation report regarding the mechanical condition of the aircraft or the specific circumstances leading to the low-altitude flight path. The primary event recorded is the physical collision with telegraph wires during the training exercise.

Probable cause

Collision with telegraph wires while flying at low height