Topcliffe - Topcliffe

On March 17, 1948 at 09:47 AM, Topcliffe - Topcliffe experienced a crash involving Vickers 619 Wellington X, operated by Royal Air Force - RAF, with the event recorded near Topcliffe AFB North Yorkshire.

The flight was categorized as training and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

4 people were known to be on board, 4 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew was engaged in a night training sortie at RAF Topcliffe. While approaching the airbase at a height of some 300 feet, the aircraft collided with a second Vickers 619 Wellington X. Registered RP499, it was carrying another crew of four and just took off from RAF Topcliffe. Both aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field near the airport. All eight crew members were killed. Crew: F/Lt Franciszek Kula, pilot, Colin Bass, pilot, Sig Walter Ernest Leslie Howell, Sig Arthur Edward Highman, F/Lt William James Jones, F/Lt Robert Sneddon Laird, F/Lt Harry Corelius New, F/Lt John Edge Kerslake.

Aircraft reference details include registration RP565.