7 fatalities

Training Flight Crash at RAF Yatesbury Kills Seven (R5929)

Bishops Cannings, United KingdomFlight

On May 27, 1941, a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide (registration R5929) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Bishops Cannings, United Kingdom in flight. 7 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of control by the pilot during low-altitude maneuvering. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

A training aircraft crashed into a field near RAF Yatesbury during low-level maneuvers, resulting in the deaths of all seven occupants on board.

What happened

The incident occurred while the aircraft was conducting a training flight for the 2nd Signal School at RAF Yatesbury. During the operation, the pilot was executing maneuvers at a low altitude. At this stage, control of the machine was lost, leading to an uncontrolled descent. The aircraft ultimately impacted the ground in a field. All seven individuals on board were killed in the crash.

Findings

The accident report indicates that the loss of control occurred specifically while the pilot was performing low-level maneuvers. No further specific mechanical or environmental failures are detailed in the available source material, but the immediate cause is attributed to the pilot's inability to maintain control during these specific flight conditions.

Probable cause

Loss of control by the pilot during low-altitude maneuvering.