No fatalities

Stall and Crash During Training Flight at RAF Usworth (VV954)

Usworth AFB (RAF Hylton), United KingdomLanding (descent or approach)

On July 30, 1951, an Avro 652 Anson (registration VV954) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Usworth AFB (RAF Hylton), United Kingdom during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by a lack of coordination and a poor management of the flight on part of the flying crew who failed to monitor properly the approach speed and failed to consider all aspects of a go-around maneuver combined with a single engine… 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 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A training flight at RAF Usworth simulating an engine failure ended in a stall and crash after the crew encountered undercarriage issues and attempted a go-around. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were injured.

Incident Overview

A local training flight at RAF Usworth was conducting an exercise simulating an engine failure. During the final approach, the crew experienced technical problems with the undercarriage, which failed to lower properly and remained unlocked.

Sequence of Events

In response to the undercarriage malfunction, the pilot-in-command decided to restart the previously inoperative engine and initiated a go-around. Shortly thereafter, the airplane stalled and crashed into a field short of the runway threshold. The aircraft sustained damage beyond repair, and all three crew members on board were injured.

Probable Cause

The official investigation determined that the accident was caused by a lack of coordination and poor management of the flight on the part of the flying crew, who failed to properly monitor the approach speed and failed to consider all aspects of a go-around maneuver combined with a single-engine approach exercise.