What happened
During a six-hour training mission conducted for the 230th OCU, the crew was attempting to land at RAF Scampton. While on final approach amidst unfavorable weather conditions, the pilot in command identified that the aircraft was not properly aligned with the intended position. In response, the decision was made to execute a go-around.
As the pilot increased engine thrust and began retracting the landing gear and adjusting the flaps, the aircraft experienced a sudden stall. The resulting impact occurred just a few hundred yards from the runway threshold, causing a massive explosion. The crash resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and seven fatalities among the crew.
Findings
Investigations into the accident concluded that the loss of control was triggered by the incorrect positioning of the flaps during the go-around procedure. This configuration led to the aerodynamic stall at an altitude so low that the crew had no opportunity to recover the aircraft before hitting the ground.