Incident
The crew was performing a flight from Ireland to RAF Crosby, Cumbria. While overflying the Irish Sea, they encountered poor weather conditions but decided to continue. As the aircraft approached the Carlisle area, it entered a low pressure zone with heavy rain, turbulence, and thunderstorm activity. During this time, the aircraft was struck by lightning.
Instrument Failure
Following the lightning strike, all instruments became unusable. The crew attempted to locate RAF Crosby without success. Without navigational aids, the captain made the decision to attempt an emergency landing in a field.
Emergency Landing
The aircraft conducted a belly landing in a field. The landing resulted in the aircraft coming to rest, damaged beyond repair. Both pilots were uninjured in the incident.
Aftermath
The aircraft was damaged beyond repair. No injuries were reported among the crew. The official investigation determined the probable cause of the incident.