Incident
While cruising at an altitude of 12,000 feet off the Isle of Man, the crew informed ground control about vibrations and icing conditions. The pilot obtained permission to reduce altitude to 8,000 feet. Minutes later, he sent a brief message stating he was losing control of the aircraft. The aircraft subsequently crashed into the Irish Sea approximately 6 miles south of Barrow-in-Furness.
Search and Rescue
Search and rescue operations were conducted but were suspended after a few days, as no trace of the aircraft or its seven crew members was found. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor with wind and snowfall. The sea was rough, making search and rescue operations difficult.
Crew
The crew consisted of seven members: F/Lt R. N. Williams (pilot), A. K. Passmore (copilot), Mr. Kirkland (navigator), Mr. Kennell (navigator), Mr. Clamp (signaller), Mr. Noble (flight engineer), and Mr. Johnston (gunner).
Investigation
The official investigation determined that the exact cause of the accident could not be established with certainty. However, the assumption that the loss of control was caused by an excessive accumulation of ice on all critical surfaces and engines was not ruled out.