What happened
The incident involved an aircraft designated Horatius that was returning to Exeter following a mission where the crew had transported staff for Royal Air Force Command from Paris. During the approach phase over Devon, the flight encountered marginal weather conditions. The crew reported difficulty in visually locating the Exeter airport and was unable to establish a certain position fix. In response to these navigational challenges, the captain elected to lower the aircraft's altitude to attempt an emergency landing on the grounds of the Tiverton Golf course.
As the aircraft proceeded down the final approach path for this improvised landing site, it collided with two trees. The impact resulted in the destruction of the airframe. All three individuals on board sustained injuries during the crash sequence.
Findings
The primary operational challenge cited was the inability of the crew to identify the intended airport or confirm their position due to adverse weather conditions. This led to the decision to divert to a non-standard landing site, where the subsequent collision with terrain obstacles caused the accident.