3 fatalities

Maritime Patrol Aircraft Crash into Sea Near Isles of Scilly (K8746)

Saint Mary's, Isles of Scilly, United KingdomFlight

On February 5, 1940, an Avro 652 Anson (registration K8746) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Saint Mary's, Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom in flight. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of control by the pilot during a low-altitude turn while on a maritime patrol 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

A maritime patrol aircraft crashed into the sea near the Isles of Scilly while executing a low-altitude turn. One crew member was rescued, but three others were killed in the incident.

What happened

The aircraft was conducting a maritime patrol mission in the waters surrounding the Isles of Scilly. During the operation, the crew initiated a turn at a low altitude. While completing this maneuver, the pilot lost control of the aircraft. The loss of control resulted in the plane crashing directly into the sea.

Following the impact, rescue operations were launched. One member of the crew was successfully recovered from the water and survived the accident. Tragically, the remaining three occupants of the aircraft did not survive the crash and were killed.

Findings

The source material does not provide specific technical findings or a formal investigation report regarding the mechanical condition of the aircraft or specific environmental factors contributing to the loss of control. The event is recorded as a loss of control during a low-altitude turn that led to an immediate impact with the water surface.

Probable cause

Loss of control by the pilot during a low-altitude turn while on a maritime patrol mission.