What happened
The incident occurred while the crew was conducting a training mission departing from Amberley. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot reported encountering issues with one of the propellers. Observers on the ground believed the problem had been resolved satisfactorily. Following this assessment, the pilot completed a circuit around the airfield and indicated an intention to return for landing.
However, the aircraft began losing altitude uncontrollably. The crew was unable to arrest the descent, and the plane dove into the terrain approximately 8 km from the airfield. The impact forces destroyed the aircraft, which was subsequently consumed by a post-crash fire. All 5 occupants on board were killed in the accident.
The flight crew consisted of five personnel assigned to the 99th Squadron: a pilot, a copilot, a navigator, a wireless operator, and another officer. No private individuals are named in this account; they are referred to by their roles within the unit.