West Raynham - West Raynham
Flight / Schedule
West Raynham - West Raynham
Aircraft
Boeing B-17 Flying FortressRegistration
AN522
MSN
2053
Year of Manufacture
1940
Operator
Royal Air Force - RAFDate
June 22, 1941 at 12:00 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Test
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Crash Location
Catterick Bridge North Yorkshire
Region
Europe • United Kingdom
Coordinates
54.3886°, -1.6472°
Crash Cause
Weather
Narrative Report
On June 22, 1941 at 12:00 PM, West Raynham - West Raynham experienced a crash involving Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, operated by Royal Air Force - RAF, with the event recorded near Catterick Bridge North Yorkshire.
The flight was categorized as test and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.
9 people were known to be on board, 8 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 88.9%.
Crew on board: 9, crew fatalities: 8, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is weather. The crew was engaged in an experimental flight. While cruising at FL330, the four engine aircraft entered a cumulonimbus. It was quickly iced up and hailstones went through the open gunports. Control was lost and the left wing broke off. The aircraft dove and broke in two at 25,000 feet. At 12,000, a crew member was able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a field and was totally wrecked. All eight other crew members were killed.
Aircraft reference details include registration AN522, MSN 2053, year of manufacture 1940.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 54.3886°, -1.6472°.
Fatalities
Total
8
Crew
8
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
The crew was engaged in an experimental flight. While cruising at FL330, the four engine aircraft entered a cumulonimbus. It was quickly iced up and hailstones went through the open gunports. Control was lost and the left wing broke off. The aircraft dove and broke in two at 25,000 feet. At 12,000, a crew member was able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a field and was totally wrecked. All eight other crew members were killed.
Cause: Weather
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
9
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
1
Fatality Rate
88.9%
Known people on board: 9
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
West Raynham - West Raynham
Operator
Royal Air Force - RAFFlight Type
Test
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Region / Country
Europe • United Kingdom
Aircraft Details
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