On November 22, 1948, an Avro 691 Lancastrian (registration G-AHJW) operated by Flight Refuelling was involved in an aviation accident near Conholt, United Kingdom during landing or approach. 7 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft deviated from its intended course during an approach in poor visibility, potentially due to navigation issues involving the Netheravon Beacon. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A four-engine aircraft crashed into hilly terrain near Conholt after an off-course approach in low visibility, resulting in seven fatalities and one serious injury.
What happened
The four-engine aircraft was undergoing a ferry flight to RAF Tarrant Rushton for maintenance purposes. During the descent phase from the northeast, the crew faced deteriorating weather conditions characterized by poor visibility. The pilot initiated the approach while flying in these low-visibility conditions. However, the aircraft struck tree tops and impacted hilly terrain in Conholt, located approximately 38 miles northeast of RAF Tarrant Rushton. The impact caused the airframe to catch fire. Seven occupants were killed in the accident, while one crew member sustained serious injuries.
Findings
Investigations confirmed that the aircraft was off course at the time of the impact. While investigators could not determine with absolute certainty why the deviation occurred, it is possible that the aircraft was being navigated using a homing technique on the Netheravon Beacon.
Probable cause
The aircraft deviated from its intended course during an approach in poor visibility, potentially due to navigation issues involving the Netheravon Beacon.
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