2 fatalities

RAF Hawarden to Lichfield flight crashes near Hordley after lightning strike (X7341)

Hordley, United KingdomFlight

On December 7, 1941, a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide (registration X7341) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Hordley, United Kingdom in flight. 2 people were killed. 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 military aircraft crashed near Hordley during a flight from RAF Hawarden to RAF Lichfield due to deteriorating weather and a lightning strike, resulting in two fatalities and four injuries among the occupants.

What happened

The incident occurred while the aircraft was en route from RAF Hawarden to RAF Lichfield. During the flight, weather conditions deteriorated significantly, characterized by heavy snowfall. The situation became critical when the airplane was struck by lightning. In response to this event, the pilot ordered all occupants to evacuate the aircraft immediately. Following the bail-out order, the plane was abandoned and subsequently crashed in the vicinity of Hordley. Upon impact, the airframe burst into flames.

The accident resulted in significant casualties among the personnel on board. Two passengers were killed in the crash, while four other individuals sustained injuries. The crew complement included a pilot and additional officers who were part of the flight team at the time of the incident.