Country
France
Operator Image

Crash of a SNCASE SE.161 Languedoc in Paris

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1952
Type of aircraft:
SNCASE SE.161 Languedoc
Operator:
Registration:
F-BATB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Paris – London
MSN:
02
YOM:
1945
Location:
Paris-Le Bourget
Seine-Saint-Denis
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During takeoff run, the four engine aircraft skidded and went out of control. It veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in a grassy area. All 23 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a SNCASE SE.161 Languedoc in Nice: 38 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1952 at 0810 LT
Type of aircraft:
SNCASE SE.161 Languedoc
Operator:
Registration:
F-BCUM
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tunis – Nice – Paris
MSN:
43
YOM:
1948
Location:
Nice
Alpes-Maritimes
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
34
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
38
Circumstances:
Forty-five seconds after takeoff from runway 04 at Nice Airport, while in initial climb, the four engine aircraft banked left, overturned and crashed in a huge explosion near the Saint-Augustin station, north of the airfield. The airplane disintegrated on impact and only a female passenger was found alive. Unfortunately, she died from her injuries four days later. Among those killed were both French actresses Michèle Verly and Lise Topart, and also the Welsh politician John Emlyn-Jones.
Crew:
Mr. Farrugia, pilot,
Mr. Fraillon, radio operator,
Mr. Cavaille, mechanic,
Mr. Biancheri, steward.
Probable cause:
It was decided that the unusual path of the aircraft immediately following the take-off, was due to the blocking of the ailerons to the left at an angle of approximately 10 degrees. It was determined on the basis of analysis that the probable cause of the blocking was the unclamping of a link cheek of the upper rear chain of the co-pilot's control column, as a result of which the chain slipped off the sprocket and jammed against the internal boss of the pin which locks the ailerons in the neutral position. More broadly, the investigation brought to light the difficulty of setting and inspecting the chains inside the dual control columns. This difficulty is directly attributable to the design, and may cause certain chains which have not been properly studied in relation to the type of service for which they are intended, to become unclamped by torsion during maintenance and setting work.

Crash of an AAC.1 Toucan in Andapa: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1952
Type of aircraft:
AAC.1 Toucan
Operator:
Registration:
F-BAMQ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
106
Location:
Andapa
Antsiranana Province
Country:
Madagascar
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Andapa, killing six occupants.
Crew:
Mr. Duterriez, pilot,
Mr. Desriac, radio navigator,
Mr. Daumarie, mechanic,
Mr. Caruana, steward.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3D in Moisville: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1951 at 0925 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
F-BAXB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Paris - Paris
MSN:
42971
YOM:
1946
Location:
Moisville
Eure
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
5302
Aircraft flight hours:
5750
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off from Paris-Le Bourget Airport at 0750LT on a flight to test a new type of air scoop. The new scoop was fitted to one engine only to allow comparison tests to be made. Five minutes later, the aircraft reached the altitude of 4,300 feet and four minutes later, at 0759LT, the starboard engine was stopped and the test commenced with a climb on the port engine with cooling gills open. At 0811LT, at an altitude of 6,980 feet, the crew commenced the second phase of the test with the port engine cooling gills in the trail position. Level off was completed at 0822LT at an altitude of 7,900 feet with the cooling gills closed. About an hour later, while flying at a relative low speed, the airplane went out of control and entered a spin, lost its empennage and eventually crashed in a field located in Moisville. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew members were killed.
Crew:
René Gallichet, pilot,
Louis Pichard, flight engineer,
Jacques Légalité, radio navigator,
Lucien Goulay, engineer,
Paul Martin, engineer.
Probable cause:
Study of the flight conditions and circumstances of the accident to the aircraft revealed no mechanical defect which might have been the initial cause of the accident. The cause would appear to have been an abnormal flight maneuver made when the crew experienced difficulty in resuming normal flight on two engines. Overspeed, reduction of pitch or difficulty in re-starting the engine may have created a dangerous situation and caused the aircraft to stall in dissymmetrical flight, thus subjecting the airframe to stresses accompanied by buffeting which was either alternating or exceeded the design limits of the structure and caused the tail-plane to break off.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 on Mt Cameroun: 29 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1951 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
F-BBDO
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Brazzaville – Pointe Noire – Libreville – Douala – Niamey – Algiers – Marseille – Paris
MSN:
42992
YOM:
1946
Location:
Mt Cameroun
Southwest
Country:
Cameroon
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
29
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft christened 'Ciel de Savoie' left Douala Airport at 1408LT bound for Niamey. Four minutes after takeoff, the crew modified his route and continued to the northwest at an altitude of 8,500 feet. About twenty minutes later, while flying in good weather conditions but facing the sun, the pilot in command realized he was facing a mountain and immediately made a sharp turn to the left when the left wing hit trees. Out of control, the aircraft crashed on the Mt Cameroon and disintegrated on impact. All 29 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Jean Chansel, pilot,
Jean Gavignet, copilot,
Roger Roure, radio navigator,
Paul Frederic, mechanic,
Lina Cotton, stewardess,
Georges Vilard, steward.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the collision with the mountain was caused by a navigation error on part of the flying crew who decided, four minutes after takeoff from Douala Airport, to abandon the current procedure and followed a different route. The crew failed to follow the prescribed flight plan and to check the improvised route. Error of judgement and overconfidence on part of the crew were considered as contributory factors.
Final Report:

Crash of a Sud-Est SE.161 Languedoc in Marseille

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1950
Type of aircraft:
SNCASE SE.161 Languedoc
Operator:
Registration:
F-BCUI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
39
YOM:
1946
Location:
Marseille
Bouches-du-Rhône
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An undercarriage failed on landing. The four engine aircraft slid on its belly for several yards before coming to rest. All 31 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Gear collapse on landing.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 off Bahrain: 40 killed

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1950 at 0153 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
F-BBDM
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Saigon – Karachi – Bahrain – Paris
MSN:
42990
YOM:
1946
Location:
Bahrain
All Bahrain
Country:
Bahrain
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
45
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
40
Captain / Total flying hours:
10550
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2100
Aircraft flight hours:
8705
Circumstances:
The approach to Bahrain was completed by night. On final approach, the aircraft christened 'Ciel de Gascogne' hit the water surface and crashed into the Persian Gulf, few hundred yards from the runway 29 threshold. First rescuers arrived on site about four hours later. Three crew members and ten passengers were rescued while 40 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Robert Plamont, pilot, †
Mr. Cartier, copilot,
Mr. Thibaud, radio officer,
Lucien Duval, radio officer, †
Mr Franco, mechanic,
Mr. Gourhaut, steward,
Roland Rimbol, steward, †
Mrs. Hervé, stewardess.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot in command to adopt the timed approach procedure to the prevailing conditions. Having descended to 300 feet, the pilot in command did not take the appropriate measures to maintain this altitude until such time as the runway lights became visible. At the time of the accident, the airport of Bahrain was not equipped radio landing aids and suitable runway approach lights, which was considered as a contributory factors.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 off Bahrain: 46 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1950 at 0116 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
F-BBDE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Saigon – Karachi – Bahrain – Paris
MSN:
42937
YOM:
1946
Location:
Bahrain
All Bahrain
Country:
Bahrain
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
44
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
46
Captain / Total flying hours:
19500
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2750
Aircraft flight hours:
8128
Circumstances:
The approach to Bahrain was completed by night and limited visibility (1,370 meters). About 5,200 meters short of runway 29 threshold, the aircraft christened 'Ciel de Picardie' hit the water surface and sank by 12 feet in the Persian Gulf. First rescuers arrived on site about eight hours later. Two crew members, the captain and the radio officer, and four passengers, were rescued while 46 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
J. Sladek, pilot,
Raoul Saury, copilot, †
Yvan Moulis, radio navigator, †
M. Collard, radio officer,
Jacques Michel, mechanic, †
Nicole Combaret, stewardess, †
Roger Bertru, steward, †
Roland Bequet, steward. †
Probable cause:
The pilot in command did not keep an accurate check of his altitude and rate of descent during the timed approach procedure, thus allowing his aircraft to fly into the surface of the sea. The possibility that the pilot-in-command was feeling the effects of fatigue cannot be ruled out. At the time of the accident, the airport of Bahrain was not equipped radio landing aids and suitable runway approach lights, which was considered as a contributory factors.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A in Cotonou

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
F-BAOD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
11720
YOM:
1943
Location:
Cotonou-Cardinal Bernardin Gantin (ex Cadjehoun)
Littoral
Country:
Benin
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown, the right main gear failed. The aircraft veered off runway to the right, lost its right engine and came to rest. All three crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Subscribe to Air France