On February 19, 1940, a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide (registration G-ACPR) operated by Great Western & Southern Air Lines was involved in an aviation accident near Burford, United Kingdom in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inability to determine the aircraft's position due to heavy snowfall led to an emergency landing attempt that resulted in a ground impact. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A twin-engine aircraft crashed into a snowy field after the pilot lost situational awareness during heavy snowfall en route from Liverpool-Speke, resulting in injuries to all five occupants.
What happened
The twin-engine aircraft departed Liverpool-Speke for a scheduled regional flight during daylight hours. While en route, the crew encountered deteriorating weather conditions characterized by heavy snowfall. The pilot reported an inability to determine the aircraft's actual position due to these poor visibility and navigation challenges.
In response to the loss of situational awareness, the pilot elected to reduce altitude and initiate an emergency landing procedure. During this maneuver, the aircraft impacted the ground in a snow-covered field. The impact caused the airframe to come to rest upside down. All five individuals on board sustained injuries, and the airframe was declared damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to determine the aircraft's position due to heavy snowfall led to an emergency landing attempt that resulted in a ground impact.
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