During the evening of 7th November 1942 this No.15 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit aircraft was flown by a pupil pilot on his first solo night circuits and landings training exercise at Acaster Malbis airfield. It took off from 20.20hrs and while making the first approach to land ten minutes later the pilot opted to fly an overshoot while fifty feet above the ground. The aircraft did not then gain any height and once over the airfield began to lose height in a turn. It then crashed in a field 200 yards from the airfield boundary and the pilot was killed.
Oxford X7072 was built to contract B.66827/40 by Airspeed Ltd. at Christchurch and was awaiting collection in November 1941. On 30th November 1941 it was taken on charge by 15 F.T.S. at Kidlington who then moved to Leconfield in February 1942. On 1st March 1942 the unit was re-designated 15 (P)AFU. As a result of the mishap at Acaster Malbis on 7th November 1942 the damage was assessed as being Cat.E2/FA and it was written off.
Pilot - Sgt William Ernest Trumper RAFVR (1335247), aged 20. Cremated South London Crematorium, Mitcham, Surrey.