1950-12-05: Vickers 619 Wellington X (NA958) — Royal Air Force - RAF — Xàbia, Spain

7 fatalitiesXàbia, SpainFlight

A military aircraft crashed into a mountainside near Xàbia, Spain, resulting in the deaths of all seven crew members on board.

What happened

During a flight traveling from Istres toward Gibraltar, the aircraft was navigating along the Spanish coastline when it encountered severe weather. While cruising, the plane moved away from its intended flight path and descended to an insufficient altitude. The aircraft type (unspecified) struck the slope of Mt Montgó, situated northwest of Xàbia. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe.

Findings

Investigations into the crash revealed that the crew was operating in conditions characterized by low visibility due to active thunderstorms. The primary factor contributing to the accident was that the aircraft was flying off course at an altitude that was too low for the terrain being traversed. There were seven fatalities among the crew members, with no survivors reported from the flight.

Probable cause

The aircraft struck terrain due to a deviation from the planned route and insufficient altitude while operating in poor visibility caused by thunderstorms.