What happened
During a scheduled training mission conducted on behalf of the 201st Squadron from RAF Kinloss, an aircraft departed from RAF Newquay-St Mawgan to perform exercises over the Celtic Sea. The mission involved coordinating with the vessel HMS Brighton to simulate an aerial attack maneuver.
As the aircraft performed a descent at low altitude to mimic an attack on the naval vessel, the pilot-in-command experienced a loss of control. The aircraft subsequently impacted the surface of the Celtic Sea. Emergency response efforts led to the rescue of two crew members, but the accident resulted in nine fatalities among the eleven people on board.
Findings
Investigations into the crash were hampered by a lack of available physical evidence at the site. However, investigators concluded that the loss of control was likely caused by insufficient airspeed while the aircraft was operating at a low altitude during the maneuver.