Sequence of Events
On the day of the accident, the aircraft named 'Saint Kevin' departed Northolt Airport at 1725 local time for a flight to Dublin, Ireland. On board were three crew members and twenty passengers. The flight proceeded without incident until reaching the Welshpool area. The intended route from that point to the coast near Harlech crossed the Welsh mountains, with elevations up to approximately 3,000 feet.
Communication and Descent Request
Throughout the flight, the aircraft operated under Instrument Flight Rules. At 1855, the crew requested and received permission from Preston Air Traffic Control to climb from the planned cruising altitude of 4,500 feet to 6,500 feet, which was the next authorized westbound level. No reason for the climb was provided. Around 1912, the aircraft reported its position as over Nevin. Shortly thereafter, between 1912 and 1915, the crew switched to the Dublin frequency and requested descent clearance. Dublin acknowledged the request and granted clearance, but the aircraft did not acknowledge. No further radio communications were received.
Accident and Fatalities
At approximately 1915, the aircraft crashed at a location about 18 nautical miles north of Nevin Beacon and approximately 4 nautical miles east-southeast of the summit of Snowdon. All 23 occupants lost their lives.
Official Findings
Investigators were unable to determine the cause of the accident with certainty. They concluded that a combination of factors, including weather conditions (clouds, icing, turbulence), pilot decision-making, in-flight situation evaluation, and flight conditions, may have contributed.