5 fatalities

Aircraft on Night IFR Flight from Cardiff Crashes into Sea off Guernsey (EC-DHE)

Guernsey, United KingdomFlight

On October 3, 1981, a Partenavia P.68 (registration EC-DHE) operated by Aero Club Cortijo Grande Turre-Almeria was involved in an aviation accident near Guernsey, United Kingdom in flight. 5 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The exact cause could not be determined due to lack of evidence, but it is believed that an engine failure led to loss of control. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

A night IFR flight from Cardiff to Alicante lost control and crashed into the sea near Guernsey. Search efforts found no trace of the aircraft or its five occupants. The cause could not be determined due to lack of evidence, but engine failure is believed to have led to loss of control.

Incident Overview

During a night instrument flight rules (IFR) operation from Cardiff to Alicante, the aircraft experienced a loss of control and subsequently crashed into the sea off the coast of Guernsey Island. The flight was underway under night conditions. After the accident, search and rescue (SAR) operations were initiated to locate the aircraft and its five occupants.

Search and Rescue Operations

SAR teams conducted extensive searches in the area where the aircraft was last known to be. However, despite the efforts, no trace of the aircraft or any of the five people on board was found. After several days, the search operations were suspended due to the lack of any evidence or debris.

Probable Cause

The official investigation into the accident was hindered by the absence of physical evidence. The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. Nevertheless, it is believed that the loss of control was a consequence of an engine failure. No other contributing factors were identified in the findings.