4 fatalities

Aircraft Crashes on Croglin Fell During Positioning Flight, Four Killed (G-AMVC)

Mt Croglin Fell, United KingdomLanding (descent or approach)

On October 17, 1961, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration G-AMVC) operated by BKS Air Transport was involved in an aviation accident near Mt Croglin Fell, United Kingdom during landing or approach. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The exact cause could not be determined due to insufficient evidence. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A positioning flight from Leeds-Bradford to Carlisle struck Mount Croglin Fell after losing orientation in poor weather, killing all four crew members.

Flight Details

The aircraft was completing a positioning flight from Leeds-Bradford Airport to Carlisle Airport. At Carlisle, it was scheduled to pick up a delegation of farmers for a charter flight to Hawarden.

Accident Sequence

During descent, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and lost orientation. The aircraft passed over RAF Crosby at 0900 LT without any visual contact with the ground. Thirty-five minutes later, air traffic control lost contact with the aircraft. The aircraft then struck the slope of Mount Croglin Fell in the North Pennines, approximately 7 miles southeast of Carlisle Airport. The aircraft was destroyed.

Weather

At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor, with low clouds, gusty winds, and heavy rainfall.

Crew

The crew consisted of pilot H. L. Mose, copilot A. Francis, pilot C. N. Wildman, and stewardess Valerie Christian. All four crew members were killed.

Investigation

The official investigation into the accident was unable to determine the exact cause due to lack of evidence.

Probable cause

The exact cause could not be determined due to insufficient evidence.