What happened
During a repositioning flight intended to pick up a group of farmers for a charter service to Hawarden, an aircraft crashed in the North Pennines. The flight was traveling from Leeds-Bradford toward Carlisle Airport when the crew encountered severe meteorological conditions. While descending, the pilots experienced a loss of spatial orientation due to low visibility and heavy rain.
At approximately 09:00 local time, the aircraft passed over RAF Crosby without the crew being able to establish visual contact with the terrain. Approximately thirty-five minutes later, air traffic control lost all communication with the flight. The aircraft subsequently impacted a slope on Mt Croglin Fell, situated roughly seven miles southeast of Carlisle Airport. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and four fatalities among the crew members.
Findings
At the time of the impact, the area was experiencing poor weather characterized by low cloud ceilings, heavy rainfall, and gusty winds. Official investigations were unable to reach a definitive conclusion regarding the specific reason for the crash due to a lack of available evidence.