Breguet 730 | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was performing a flight from Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer, south of Toulon, Var, to Port Lyautey, Morocco. The approach to the airbase was started from the southwest, but for unknown reason, the pilot was too low. The seaplane hit power cables and banked left, causing the left wing to hit the ground. The aircraft cartwheeled and crashed in flames along the Sebou River, few km from the airfield. Four crew members and three passengers were killed while all 20 other occupants were injured, some of them seriously. The aircraft christened 'Sirius' was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. The four crew members (33S Squadron) who were killed were:
PM Maurice Souny,
2SM Roger Pouget,
2QM Raymond Jeandot,
SM Joseph Cariou.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the pilot who descended at a too low altitude and off the prescribed approach path.

Crash of a Breguet 730 off Arzew: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Breguet 730

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While overflying the Mediterranean Sea on a flight from Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer, south of Toulon, Var, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. While approaching the Algerian coast, an engine failed. The pilot decided to make an emergency landing but the aircraft christened 'Vega' crashed into the sea off Arzew. All occupants were rescued but a passenger was drowned. Few hours later, a survivor died from his injuries.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in poor weather conditions.