Reason for Loss |
In the latter stages of a night training flight and at a low altitude when the mid-upper gunner reported seeing a Wellington bomber apparently on a collision course. The pilot of the Lancaster took avoiding action by descending and the plane flew into a belt of trees and crashed in a field near Hackthorn, Lincolnshire. The aircraft burst into flames. Three of the crew - Plt Off Reginald Lionel Barton-Smith (Pilot), Sgt Haydn Deryk Ryder (Nav), Sgt Ronald John Huish (W.Op/AG), died in the crash and the remaining four were seriously injured. Weather conditions were good for night flying with bright moonlight and little cloud. There was, however, a ground haze which restricted the visibility at low level. A discrepancy of 1,000 feet between the readings of the two altimeters (pilot's and navigator's) aboard the Lancaster was reported, and it would appear that the pilot thought he was flying higher than he actually was. |