5 fatalities

Disappearance of RAF Melbourne-bound aircraft from Rearsby (EG113)

United Kingdom, United KingdomFlight

On January 24, 1946, an Avro 652 Anson (registration EG113) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near United Kingdom, United Kingdom in flight. 5 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Electrical failures leading to the loss of communication systems. 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

An aircraft vanished during a flight from Rearsby to RAF Melbourne in Yorkshire. Despite extensive search efforts, no trace of the plane or its five crew members was found.

What happened

The crew departed Rearsby with the intention of flying to RAF Melbourne, located in Yorkshire. The aircraft failed to arrive at its destination as scheduled. When the flight did not check in, search and rescue operations were immediately initiated. Investigators combed a large area for signs of the missing plane but eventually suspended these efforts after one week. No wreckage or debris was recovered during this period, and there was no trace of the five crew members who were on board.

Findings

While no definitive conclusion was reached due to the lack of physical evidence, it is believed that the aircraft may have crashed into either the Humber estuary or the North Sea. The primary suspected cause for the loss of contact and subsequent disappearance was electrical problems. These technical issues reportedly led to a total failure of the communication systems, rendering the crew unable to transmit their position or distress signals.

Probable cause

Electrical failures leading to the loss of communication systems