No fatalities

Twin-engine aircraft crash at RAF Bircham Newton (K8759)

Bircham Newton AFB, United KingdomLanding (descent or approach)

On December 12, 1938, an Avro 652 Anson (registration K8759) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Bircham Newton AFB, United Kingdom during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft was on a too-low approach during final landing, leading to a collision with treetops. 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 struck treetops during final approach to RAF Bircham Newton, resulting in injuries to all four crew members and total loss of the airframe.

What happened

The incident occurred while the twin-engine aircraft was on final approach to RAF Bircham Newton. During this phase of flight, the airplane descended at an altitude that was too low for the conditions. As a result, the airframe made contact with treetops before ultimately crashing into a wooded area. The impact caused significant damage, leading to the destruction of the aircraft. All four members of the crew sustained injuries in the accident.

Findings

The official investigation identified the primary contributing factor as the crew's failure to maintain adequate altitude during the approach phase. This too low approach was cited as the direct cause of the collision with terrain and vegetation.

Probable cause

The aircraft was on a too-low approach during final landing, leading to a collision with treetops.