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Crash of a Sud-Est SE.161 Languedoc in Romainville: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1948 at 1550 LT
Type of aircraft:
SNCASE SE.161 Languedoc
Operator:
Registration:
F-BCUC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Paris-Le Bourget - Paris-Le Bourget
MSN:
29
YOM:
1946
Location:
Paris
Paris
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Paris-Le Bourget Airport, while climbing, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed on a factory located in Romainville, in the suburbs of Paris. All nine occupants were killed while two workers in the factory were slightly injured. The crew was performing a local training flight from Paris-Le Bourget Airport and the takeoff was initiated with one engine voluntarily inoperative.
Crew:
Georges Lemare, pilot,
Charles Fouquet, pilot,
François Rogale, copilot,
Jean Soulard, radio navigator,
Pierre Tolosano, mechanic,
Hubert Halter, mechanic,
Guy Kerespert, mechanic,
Roger Deluc, mechanic,
Pierre Ledoux, radio navigator by Air Atlas.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3D in Paris-Le Bourget: 16 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1948 at 1937 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
F-BAXC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brussels – Paris
MSN:
42972
YOM:
1946
Flight number:
AF122
Location:
Paris-Le Bourget
Seine-Saint-Denis
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
While approaching Paris, the crew was instructed by ATC to stack for about 30 minutes due to an Air Algérie DC-3 landing at the same time. Also, ATC told the crew to divert to Pontoise-Cormeilles en Vexin if they wanted to land immediately. The captain decided to stack for about 30 minutes at an altitude between 700 and 1,000 meters and was later authorized to descent to Le Bourget. On final approach, while at a height of some 150 feet, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a tulip field located 1,500 meters short of runway threshold. Two passengers were seriously injured while all 14 other occupants were killed. Few hours later, both survivors died from their injuries.
Crew:
Edouard Albin, pilot,
Georges Capron, copilot,
Pierre Lebeau, radio navigator,
Joseph Lacroix, mechanic,
Mr. Germé, steward.
Probable cause:
Weather conditions were considered as good at the time of the accident and no technical failure was pointed out on the airplane or its instruments. It is believed that the aircraft stalled on final approach, maybe due to an insufficient approach speed.

Crash of a SNCASE SE.161 Languedoc in Bône

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1947 at 0835 LT
Type of aircraft:
SNCASE SE.161 Languedoc
Operator:
Registration:
F-BATY
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bône – Paris
MSN:
25
Location:
Annaba
Annaba
Country:
Algeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, it appears that an undercarriage failed. The aircraft skidded, overran, lost its landing gear and came to rest with the engine number one on fire. All occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an AAC.1 Toucan near Eséka: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1947
Type of aircraft:
AAC.1 Toucan
Operator:
Registration:
F-BALF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bangui – Yaoundé – Douala
MSN:
091
Flight number:
AF632
Location:
Eséka
Centre
Country:
Cameroon
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
While cruising in marginal weather conditions, the three engine aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located near Eséka. All 13 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Louis Coupvent, pilot,
Robert Ferrisse, radio navigator,
Frank Malaret, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an AAC.1 Toucan in Gémenos: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1947 at 2200 LT
Type of aircraft:
AAC.1 Toucan
Operator:
Registration:
F-BANB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Nice – Marseille – Lyon – Paris
MSN:
136
YOM:
1945
Location:
Gémenos
Bouches-du-Rhône
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
1226
Circumstances:
On the leg from Nice to Marseille, the crew started the descent to Marignane Airport when the three engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Sainte-Beaume Mountain Range, near Gémenos. A crew member was seriously injured while both other occupants were killed. Two days later, the only survivor died from his injuries. Delivered in September 5, 1945, the aircraft entered in service in June 8, 1946 only.
Crew:
Gabriel Cahouet, pilot,
Henri Decoudray, radio navigator,
Robert Salles, mechanic.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew encountered a failure of the automatic direction finder while approaching Marseille by night. While cruising in low visibility due to clouds, the crew decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground when the aircraft hit a rocky mountain and crashed in flames.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL on Mt Moucherolle: 23 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1947 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
F-BAXO
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Nice – Lyon – Paris
MSN:
20488
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt Moucherolle
Isère
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport at 1330LT bound for Paris-Le Bourget with an intermediate stop in Lyon-Bron. The ETA in Bron was 1600LT. About half an hour prior to his scheduled arrival in Lyon, the crew informed ATC in Montélimar-Ancône that he was flying east of Valence, approaching Grenoble, and that he was encountering poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls. Few minutes later, the aircraft hit the east slope of Mt Moucherolle and crashed at an altitude of 2,289 meters. The wreckage was found a day later and all 23 occupants were killed. Apparently due to weather conditions, the aircraft was flying too low and off track at the time of the accident, maybe following a navigational error on part of the crew.
Crew:
Eugène Poulon, pilot,
Yves Lucchesi, copilot,
Roger Bourgne, radio navigator,
Marcel Wauthier, mechanic,
Marcel Bouthien, steward.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C-SIC3G near Lisbon: 19 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1947 at 1845 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
F-BAXQ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Paris – Bordeaux – Lisbon
MSN:
13806/25251
YOM:
1944
Location:
Lisbon
Estremadura - Lisbon District
Country:
Portugal
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Captain / Total flying hours:
1520
Aircraft flight hours:
130
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Paris Le Bourget Airport at 1045LT and Bordeaux-Mérignac at 1330LT. The crew started the descent to Lisbon Airport in poor weather conditions with low clouds and fog. While approaching from the west, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Peninha located in the Sintra Mountain Range, about 30 km west of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and the wreckage was found about 15 meters below the summit. A passenger was seriously injured while 19 other occupants were killed, among them 8 members of the French Orchestra 'Ars Rediviva' directed by Claude and Claire Crussard.
Crew:
Oscar Porta, pilot,
Michel Eyquem, copilot,
René Montel, radio navigator,
R. Anglès, mechanic,
Anne-Marie Dupuy, stewardess.
Probable cause:
It appears that the radio guidance system at Lisbon Airport failed for about 15 minutes while the crew was approaching the city from the west. At that time, the visibility was reduced due to foggy conditions and the crew was unable to locate his position with certainty. Due to poor visibility and lack of ground assistance, the crew did not realize his altitude was insufficient.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3D in Paris-Le Bourget: 20 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1946 at 0915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
F-BAXD
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Paris - Croydon
MSN:
42975
YOM:
1946
Location:
Paris-Le Bourget
Seine-Saint-Denis
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
After takeoff, the aircraft failed to gain height and hit the roof of a house. It stalled and then crashed in flames near a factory located in Le Blanc-Mesnil, southeast of the airport. Seven occupant (a crew member and six passengers) were rescued while 19 other occupants were killed. A person on the ground was also killed.
Crew killed were:
Joseph Corvaisier, pilot,
Michel Jourdan, radio navigator,
Guy Gaudie, mechanic,
Mrs Vavasseur, stewardess.
Probable cause:
It appears that both engines were not developing full power on takeoff, causing the aircraft to have insufficient speed and power to gain altitude. Unfortunately, investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the lack of power.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A in Køge: 22 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
F-BAOB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Copenhagen – Paris
MSN:
11714
YOM:
1943
Location:
Køge
Sjælland
Country:
Denmark
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Circumstances:
Few minutes after its departure from Copenhagen-Kastrup Airport, while climbing, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in Køge, about 35 km southwest of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 22 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Jean Faucher, pilot,
Pierre Pabiot, copilot,
Pierre Le bail, radio navigator,
Maurice Roger, mechanic,
Mrs Deschamps, stewardess.
Probable cause:
It appears that the loss of control was caused by the failure of an engine.
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