During the afternoon of the 9th December 1982 this aircraft was one of four being flown at low level over the north of England as part of a pilot training programme, the four pilots were undertaking what was called a Co-Pilot Enrichment Scheme Course to prepare them to fly other aircraft types. The pilot of this particular aircraft was a Vulcan co-pilot based at Waddington and was more than likely about to be posted off the Vulcan type at the time of this incident. This pilot was third out of the four aircraft to take off and all four were to fly a planned route which would take them over the Lake District with part of the route planned to go down Ullswater, when they arrived over the North-West low cloud was present in the area and with visibility reduced the other three aircraft changed their route to avoid entering the cloud which covered the high ground of the Lake District. XW417 did not change course and entered the poor weather front, it was seen to be flying at low level in the Thirlmere area, it was thought that the pilot became disorientated in the cloud and lost control, the aircraft went into a steep dive and it flew into trees near the side of the reservoir before he was able to regain control. Sadly the pilot was killed in the resulting crash and the aircraft was completely destroyed.
Pilot - F/Lt Michael Gene O'Neill RAF (8026874), aged 26, of Aylesbury. Cremated Lincoln.
Michael O'Neill received his commission to the rank of Acting P/O on 27th January 1977 from the rank of Aircraftsman and was graded as P/O exactly a year later. He was promoted to F/O a further year later on 27th January 1977. The date when he was promoted to F/Lt is not yet known.
I visited the site at Easter 2011 and a few small fragments are still to be seen scattered around the area of the crash.
