What happened
The incident occurred during a return leg from an antisubmarine mission to RAF Chivenor. The crew encountered deteriorating weather conditions that significantly reduced visibility. While attempting to obtain assistance from air traffic control, the crew utilized an incorrect frequency. As the aircraft approached the coastline at a very low altitude, it collided with a shoreline cliff approximately 3 km east of Hartland Point. The impact caused the airframe to disintegrate, resulting in the deaths of all 10 personnel on board.
Findings
The official assessment concluded that the accident was avoidable through better judgment and adherence to safety protocols. Investigators noted that the pilot had sufficient fuel to remain off the coast until ground assistance could be properly coordinated. Alternatively, if proceeding by instruments, the flight should have been conducted at a safe altitude. A significant contributing factor was identified in the communication breakdown; the radio operator requested homing assistance from the 19 Group Controller seven times over 38 minutes, with four of these requests marked as immediate or priority. The report criticized the ground station for withholding assistance due to technicalities regarding the frequency used, despite the aircraft being in obvious difficulty.