Accident Overview
A training aircraft on a three-hour routine flight from RAF Kinloss encountered deteriorating weather conditions shortly after takeoff. Low clouds, fog, turbulence, and icing were reported. While cruising at low altitude, the aircraft struck the top of a hill at Creag Bhan. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate, resulting in the deaths of all 13 occupants.
Occupants
The crew comprised: pilot S/Ldr Michael Charles McCallum; copilots F/O Terence Charles Swinney and F/O David John Evans; navigators F/Lt Bruce George Wishart Mackie and F/O Ralph Joseph Fonseca; air engineer Sgt Malcolm Arthur Jones; air electronics officer F/O John Verner Young; air electronics operators F/Sgt David John Harris, Sgt Michael Barry Bowen, and Sgt Charles Peter Matthews; and air signaller Sgt Kenneth Browne Hurry. The two passengers were S/Ldr Harry Harvey, air electronics officer, and P/O Iain Campbell MacLean.
Official Findings
The probable cause, as stated in official findings, is that the airplane went out of control following an excessive accumulation of ice on wings and fuselage.