On 12th March 1947 this aircraft was being ferried from Prestwick airfield to Bovingdon in Hertfordshire, the probable route was to have been down the west coast of England and crossing over the country much further south. As it flew over the side of the Lake District the aircraft entered a snow storm and the aircraft flew into the hill of Black Combe. The aircraft stayed in one piece and the two airmen on board survived with only minor injuries being sustained. Because of the poor weather the men opted to stay in the shelter of the aircraft over night rather than try and descend the mountain and seek help. The aircraft wireless receiver was still working but the transmitter had been broken in the crash, the men could hear that they were being looked for but could not reply to the messages. They made their way off the mountain after spending the night sheltering in the aircraft and found their way to Holegyhll Farm. Deep snow blocked many of the roads around Millom and after a huge effort by local people the two airmen were taken Bootle railway station and eventually to Whitehaven Hospital. The accident was later put down to an in correct weather forecast and the pilot hitting the ground while climbing after flying a lower visual route to begin to fly on instruments at a much higher height.
As a footnote to this incident, before the RAF could place a guard on the site three Millom Grammar School boys had heard of the accident and climbed to the aircraft to inspect it. One of the boys returned to lower ground before a blizzard started but two of the boys opted to see out the blizzard in the aircraft, this also became an overnight stay and the following day they made their way down the mountain.
Pilot - Cpt William Joseph Daner DFC USAF (O-26215). Minor injuries.
Passenger - 1/Lt Artie Garner USAF (O-870565). Minor injuries.
William Daner was the pilot of AT-6C 41-32769 which crashed at Stewart Field, New York on 1st March 1943 while training as a pilot. He was awarded the U.S. DFC for service with 409th Bomber Group, almost certainly while as a pilot of an A-20 bomber during the Second World War. He died on 21st November 1992
The remaining wreckage has been collected together on Black Combe.
A large heavy undercarriage leg still at the site.
A section of the aircraft which once housed a glazed panel.