What happened
During a routine training exercise conducted under foggy conditions, the aircraft descended to an altitude that was insufficient for safe flight. The crew failed to recognize that their height above ground level had become critical before impact occurred. The machine struck the terrain near Twizzle Head Moss, causing it to disintegrate upon contact with the ground.
The accident resulted in significant loss of life within the airframe. Nine crew members were killed in the crash, while one individual sustained injuries. The victims included the pilot, copilot, navigator, bombardier, flight engineer, radio operator, tail gunner, and waist gunner. The sole survivor was a member of the ground or support staff associated with the 857th Bombardment Squadron, as indicated by the context of the crew listing provided in the source records.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the accident was the failure of the flight deck to maintain adequate altitude awareness. The reduced visibility caused by the fog obscured visual references to the ground, leading to a controlled descent that ended in a collision with the terrain. No mechanical failures or external hazards were cited as contributing factors in the available records; the incident is attributed solely to spatial disorientation and insufficient altitude management during low-visibility training operations.