What happened
The incident occurred while the crew was conducting a night training sortie departing from Poole. Following a waiting period of approximately 25 minutes, the pilot executed a first flare maneuver successfully. During the subsequent second flare, the aircraft lifted off into foggy weather conditions. Shortly after takeoff, the machine impacted the water surface near Poole and subsequently sank.
The accident resulted in significant loss of life and injury. Eight crew members were killed in the event, while four others sustained injuries. The aircraft was completely destroyed upon impact with the water.