Country
France
code

Drôme

Crash of a Fairchild-Hiller FH-227B near Léoncel: 22 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1989 at 2107 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild-Hiller FH-227
Operator:
Registration:
F-GGDM
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Paris - Valence
MSN:
532
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
UAR5602
Location:
Léoncel
Drôme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Captain / Total flying hours:
8970
Captain / Total hours on type:
577.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
15639
Aircraft flight hours:
27249
Aircraft flight cycles:
39128
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Paris-Orly, the crew was cleared to descend to FL070 at 2049LT then to FL060 at 2055LT. Then the crew was instructed to turn right to 178° to the VOR of Vienne but after passing VNE VOR, he followed a wrong track off 155°. At 2058LT, the crew was transferred from Lyon-Satolas Approach to Valence Approach with whom the radio contact was established 30 seconds later. The crew was cleared to descend to 3,500 feet for a specified arrival route Vienne - Valence. A right turn to 200° was initiated when, at a speed of 187 knots, the aircraft struck the vertical cliff of 'Pierre Chauve' (1,260 meters high) located near Léoncel. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 22 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident is the direct result of a navigational error. This error had the direct causes:
- The display and use the VOR LSA (Lyon-Satolas) instead of VNE (Vienne),
- An insufficiency in the mental representation of the path of the aircraft despite other available information.
Moreover, the lack of rigor in the division of work in their execution and in the mutual control are contributing factors.
The Committee also noted that the following facts have facilitated the development of a critical situation:
- Documentation of the crew used for navigation and organization of the dashboard of the plane could be sources of error,
- The organization of the airspace in the region of Valence did not allow optimal use of existing radar,
- The tasks of the crew were not defined by the operator,
- The copilot had a moderate but significant blood alcohol level.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-4A Caribou in Valence

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1974 at 1645 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
Operator:
Masin Aircraft Company
Registration:
N90569
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Algiers - Basel
MSN:
48
YOM:
1962
Location:
Valence-Chabeuil
Drôme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route on a positioning flight from Algiers to Basel, the crew encountered technical problems with the right engine that failed following a loss of hydraulic pressure. The decision to divert to Valence-Chabeuil Airport for an emergency landing was taken. Eventually, the crew was forced to make a belly landing in an open field located few km from the airfield. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure following a loss of hydraulic pressure.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119K Flying Boxcar near Aulan: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1972 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
52-5936
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Lockbourne - Gander - Keflavik - Wiesbaden - Marseille - Athens - Amman
MSN:
11115
Location:
Aulan
Drôme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a long flight from Lockbourne AFB (Columbus, Ohio) to Amman, Jordan, with intermediate stops in Gander, Keflavik, Wiesbaden, Marseille and Athens. While cruising in poor weather conditions (stormy weather) to the east of the Rhône Valley, the crew failed to realize he was not on the proper flight track, probably due to strong winds gusting from the south. In poor visibility, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near the Devès Pass, near Aulan. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Francis T. Durkin, pilot,
Dale R. Anderson, copilot,
Marion R. Meckstoch, navigator,
William R. Barbor, mechanic,
William L. Champion.

Crash of a Cessna 401 in Die: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1971 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 401
Operator:
Registration:
F-BRPU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Paris - Cannes
MSN:
401-0127
YOM:
1968
Location:
Die
Drôme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Paris-Le Bourget Airport at 1123LT bound for Cannes, carrying a passenger, the CEO of Laboratoires UPSA Camille Bru, and a pilot. While flying over Drôme at an altitude of 3,000 meters in good weather conditions, the airplane collided with a Robin DR-308 registered F-BSLO. The pilot, sole on board, departed Gap Airfield at 1230LT bound for Chartres via Moulins, towing two gliders on behalf of the Bertin de Chatenay Aeroclub. Immediately after the collision, the pilots of both gliders were able to detach and landed safely. Out of control, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed on the slope of Mt Salaure, at an altitude of 1,100 meters. Both aircraft were totally destroyed and all three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Canadian Vickers PBV-1A Canso A near Pierrelatte

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso (OA-10 Canso)
Operator:
Registration:
F-ZBAR
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
CV-449
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
Pélican Rouge
Location:
Pierrelatte
Drôme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a scooping mission on the Donzère-Mondragon Canal located near Pierrelatte. While taking off, the nose gear door opened due to a technical failure. Water entered the gear bay and control was lost. The seaplane veered to the right then struck the bank before coming to rest partially submerged. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the torque tube on the nose gear caused the unexpected opening of the nose gear door while taking off.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II near Mantaille

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II
Operator:
Registration:
LW275
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Saint-Rambert-d’Albon
Drôme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crew was performing a supply mission for the French Resistance. En route, while flying over Romans, captain instructed his crew to bail out following an engine fire. Out of control, aircraft crashed in a field and was destroyed while all eight occupants were uninjured. The passenger was a member of the British Special Services.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Bloch MB.210 in Saint-Martin-d’Août: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1939 at 1310 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bloch MB.210
Operator:
Registration:
E-856
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Avord - Istres
MSN:
183
YOM:
1939
Location:
Saint-Martin-d’Août
Drôme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from Avord to Istres to transfer the squadron, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy snow falls. All six crewmen decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in Saint-Martin-d'Août, some 32 northeast of Valence. Four crewmen were injured and two others were killed as their parachute failed to open. Crew from the 51st Bomb Squad.
Crew:
Sgt Daniel Dugourd, pilot,
Lt Gilbert Bonnardel, Chief,
Adj/C Henri Bouvet, observer, †
Sgt André Bozon, radio operator,
Sgt Henri Porcher, mechanic,
Cpl/C Jean Lucas, radio. †

Crash of a Caudron C.445 Goéland in Saint-Sorlin-en-Valloire

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Caudron C.440 Goéland
Operator:
Registration:
T-923
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Avor
MSN:
59
Location:
Saint-Sorlin-en-Valloire
Drôme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Avord to Istres to transfer the squadron, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy snow falls. The captain attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in a swamp located in Saint-Sorlin-en-Valloire. All three crew members from the 51st Bomb Squad were uninjured.

Crash of a Caudron C.445 Goéland in Valence

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Caudron C.440 Goéland
Operator:
Registration:
T-903
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Avord - Istres
MSN:
39
Location:
Valence
Drôme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Avord to Istres to transfer the squadron, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy snow falls. All occupants decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in the district of Paillassier, in the suburb of Valence. There were no casualties. Crew from the 51st Bomb Squad.
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