What happened
During a flight transitioning from Halfpenny Green toward RAF Cranfield, the crew of the aircraft encountered significant mechanical issues involving the left engine. While maintaining an altitude of 10,000 feet, the loss of power in the left engine necessitated an immediate emergency descent.
As the aircraft descended through cloud layers, it entered environments characterized by icing conditions. Upon exiting the clouds at approximately 200 feet, roughly 3 miles from the destination airfield, the pilot-in-command struggled to maintain stable flight controls due to the accumulation of ice on the airframe.
With one engine non-functional and control surfaces compromised by ice, the pilot attempted to execute an emergency landing in a nearby field. The impact resulted in three injuries among the crew members. The aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.
Findings
Investigations into the incident identified two primary contributing factors: the mechanical failure of the left engine during the cruise phase and the subsequent encounter with icing conditions during the descent.