Investigation Summary
On the morning of April 30, 1990, the Avro Shackleton, nicknamed 'Dylan' and operated by No. 8 Squadron, departed RAF Lossiemouth for a 'mutual training' exercise (Exercise Bushfire) involving a Tornado F3. As part of the exercise parameters, the Shackleton's internal radar was turned off. The weather in the Outer Hebrides was poor, with a cloud base starting at 200 feet and extending to 3,000 feet. At 10:25 UTC, the crew contacted RAF Benbecula, reporting they were 20 miles west of the airfield and requesting an approach. However, subsequent investigation determined the aircraft was actually 15 miles north of that reported position. At 10:30 UTC, the aircraft was spotted by RAF personnel orbiting an island 12 miles north of the airfield. At 10:34 UTC, the crew radioed that the weather was too poor for the approach and they were climbing and turning right to try again. This was the final transmission. The aircraft struck the summit of Maodal at approximately 770 feet, just 30 feet below the peak, while all four Rolls-Royce Griffon engines were at cruise power. The impact occurred at approximately 10:37 UTC, 25 miles away from the airfield they were attempting to reach.
Final Conclusions
The Board of Inquiry concluded that the accident was a Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT). The primary cause was the aircraft being flown below a safe altitude in unsuitable weather conditions. The board noted the discrepancy between the crew's reported position and their actual position but was unable to determine why the crew believed they were 20 miles west of Benbecula when they were in fact 12 miles north. The deactivation of the onboard radar for the exercise was a contributing factor in the crew's loss of situational awareness regarding the terrain.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Radar
The aircraft's primary AEW radar was intentionally deactivated for the 'mutual training' exercise with a Tornado F3, removing a key tool for terrain awareness.
Orange Harvest ESM
An Electronic Support Measures receiver mounted on top of the aircraft; the unit from WR965 was later recovered and used as part of a memorial on the crash site.
Rolls-Royce Griffon Engines
The aircraft was powered by four Griffon engines with contra-rotating propellers, which were noted for their significant noise levels.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was one of the last operational Shackletons, a type originally developed from the Avro Lancaster and Lincoln bombers.
- 02All No. 8 Squadron aircraft were named after characters from the children's TV show 'The Magic Roundabout'; WR965 was named 'Dylan'.
- 03The aircraft was flying at cruise power at the time of impact, indicating no mechanical engine failure occurred.
- 04The cloud base at the time of the accident was as low as 200 feet above sea level.
- 05The Shackleton fleet was in the process of being retired, to be replaced by the Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS).
Safety Actions & Advisories
Fleet Retirement
The aging Shackleton fleet was retired shortly after the accident, with the role being fully assumed by the Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS) which provided modern navigation and safety systems.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Missile Strike Allegations
Reference ↗Early eyewitness reports led to public speculation that a missile strike had downed the aircraft during the military exercise, a claim the RAF formally denied.
Location
ACCIDENT SITE · Coordinates taken from the official investigation report.