François Coty | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Named 'Le Trait d'Union II', the aircraft departed Paris-Le Bourget Airport on 11SEP1931 for a nonstop flight to Tokyo, the second attempt for this crew. A first attempt was made last 14 of July but the aircraft crashed in Sherbati, Russia. While cruising east of Ufa, over the Ural Mountains, the crew encountered problems while flying in poor weather conditions. Marcel Doret asked his colleagues to take their parachute and bail out. He bailed out few seconds later and landed safely when the aircraft crashed and was destroyed. At this time, he realized his both friends remained in the cabin and did not bail out for unknown reasons. Both aviators Joseph Le Brix et René Mesmin were killed.

Crash of a Dewoitine D.33 in Nizhneudinsk

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1931 at 2130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Dewoitine D.33

Operator:

François Coty

Registration:

F-AKDV

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Schedule:

Paris – Tokyo

MSN:

YOM:

1930

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Circumstances:

The crew was attempting the first non stop flight from Paris to Tokyo and departed Paris-Le Bourget on 12 July 1931 at 0443LT. While cruising over the region of Nizhneudinsk, the engine failed due to icing conditions. Le Brix and Mesmin bailed out while the pilot Doret attempted to make an emergency landing near Sherbati. The aircraft eventually crashed in a wooded area and was damaged beyond repair as the engine and the right wing were torn off. The aircraft was christened 'Le Trait d'Union'.
Crew:
Joseph Le Brix,
Marcel Doret,
René Mesmin.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight due to icing.