What happened
The incident occurred during a night navigation exercise that originated from Hamilton. The aircraft was operating under conditions of poor visibility caused by heavy snowfall while in the cruise phase of flight. During this period, the crew did not recognize that their altitude had become insufficient for safe terrain clearance. Consequently, the airplane struck trees and crashed approximately 2 kilometers southeast of Avon.
All four individuals on board were killed in the accident. The fatalities included the pilot and three other crew members serving as navigators and a wireless operator.
Findings
The official investigation determined that the crash resulted from controlled flight into terrain. This occurred while the aircraft was cruising through a snowstorm, where reduced visibility likely contributed to the failure to maintain adequate altitude.