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Indre-et-Loire

Crash of a Bloch MB.210 in Tours

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
E-342
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tours - Tours
MSN:
2
YOM:
1938
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight at Tours-Parçay-Meslay Air Base. After landing, the instructor realized that the remaining distance was insufficient so he decided to take off and increased engine power. The airplane failed to respond and did not take off. To avoid any collision with the Air Touraine's hangars, the pilot elected to pass between both of them but both wings collided with hangars and the aircraft came to rest. All five occupants escaped uninjured except the captain. Two people on the ground were injured as well. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Bloch MB.210 in Tours: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1939 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
E-629
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Angers - Tours
MSN:
152
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
700
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a special flight from Angers on behalf of the Territory Aerial Defence (DAT - Défense Aérienne du Territoire). A total of four Bloch MB.210 were flying together, making a 'Diamond' formation. While approaching the Tours-Parçay-Meslay Airport, the aircraft positioned on the left side of the 'Diamond' departed the formation to the left while the aircraft positioned on the right side of the 'Diamond' departed the formation to the right. Suddenly, both aircraft flying one behind the other collided. Both aircraft went out of control, crashed in an open field and were destroyed. All nine crew members on both aircraft were killed.
Crew aboard 152:
Sgt Paul Bredela,
Adj Gaston François,
Sgt Girard,
Cpl/C Génébault,
Adj Lagarce.
Second aircraft's crew (registration unconfirmed):
Lt Col Louis Mailloux,
Lt Henry de Rilly d'Oysonville,
Adj Gonin,
Sgt Robert Callède.
Probable cause:
Investigation committee was unable to determine the exact cause of the collision.

Crash of a Bloch MB.210 in Tours: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1939 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Angers - Tours
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a special flight from Angers on behalf of the Territory Aerial Defence (DAT - Défense Aérienne du Territoire). A total of four Bloch MB.210 were flying together, making a 'Diamond' formation. While approaching Tours-Parçay-Meslay Airport, the aircraft positioned on the left side of the 'Diamond' departed the formation to the left while the aircraft positioned on the right side of the 'Diamond' departed the formation to the right. Suddenly, both aircraft flying one behind the other collided. Both aircraft went out of control, crashed in an open field and were destroyed. All nine crew members on both aircraft were killed.
Crew aboard 152:
Sgt Paul Bredela,
Adj Gaston François,
Sgt Girard,
Cpl/C Génébault,
Adj Lagarce.
Second aircraft's crew (registration unconfirmed):
Lt Col Louis Mailloux,
Lt Henry de Rilly d'Oysonville,
Adj Gonin,
Sgt Robert Callède.
Probable cause:
The investigation committee was unable to determine the exact cause of the collision.

Crash of a Potez 540 in Beaumont-la-Ronce: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1938 at 0015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-ANJO
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tours – Vélizy-Villacoublay
MSN:
75
YOM:
1936
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
On the evening of 22 June 1938, the crew completed some training maneuvers at the airports of Orléans, Châteauroux and Tours before returning to their base at Vélizy-Villacoublay. The twin engine aircraft departed Tours-Parçay-Meslay Airport shortly after midnight on 23 June 1938. An engine misfired few minutes after takeoff and the pilot attempted an emergency landing when the right wing impacted the ground. The aircraft crashed in Beaumont-la-Ronce, some 15 km north of Tours Airport, and was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All seven occupants were killed. They were performing a mission on behalf of the Section Centrale des Transports Aériens (SCTA).
Crew:
Cpt Georges Reynaud,
Lt Paul Canal,
LtdV René Perret,
Sgt/C Albert Thibault,
Sgt Yves Fabres.
Passengers:
Cpt Maurice Marmagnant
Cpt Jean Raineri.
Probable cause:
The commission did not find the exact cause of the engine failure but the crew made a sharp turn to the right at low altitude to avoid a hill, causing the right wing to struck the ground.

Crash of a Bloch MB.200 in Saint-Laurent-en-Gâtines: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
E-094
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Châteauroux - Châteauroux
MSN:
62
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was flying back to his base in Châteauroux following a training sortie. While cruising at night, an engine failure forced the crew to divert to Tours-Parçay Meslay Airport. Due to lack of visibility, the crew was unable to locate the runway and decided to attempt an emergency landing in an open field. On final, the aircraft collided with a farm and crashed, bursting into flames. All five crewmen were killed while three people in the farm were uninjured.
Crew:
2nd Lt Vieux,
Lt Bédat,
Sgt Major Perrin,
Sgt Giclon,
Sgt Aubry.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Caudron C.630 Simoun in Tours: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-ANRK
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Le Havre - Paris - Tours - Bordeaux
MSN:
7013.9
YOM:
1935
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On approach to the airport of Tours-Parçay-Meslay, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient. On final, the airplane impacted a tree with its right wing and crashed in a garden located short of runway. The pilot was killed and the telegraphist was injured.
Crew:
Georges Tixier, pilot, †
Victor Beaufol, telegraphist.
Probable cause:
The attention of the pilot was focused by the presence of several aircraft at Tours Airport and he failed to realize that he was completing the approach at a too low altitude.

Ground collision in Tours

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
12
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tours - Tours
MSN:
12
YOM:
1929
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The LeO 206 registered 12 was bogged down for unknown reasons. After landing, the LeO 206 registered 1 collided with the 12. While the 1 was slightly damaged, the 12 was damaged beyond repair and two of its crew members were seriously injured. The mishap occurred in unknown circumstances.

Crash of a Potez 25 in Tours: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1929
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tours - Tours
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training mission out from Tours-Parçay-Meslay Airport. After liftoff, the aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height and was unable to climb more than one metre. It collided with one another Potez 25 that was parked in front of a hangar. Both aircraft were destroyed and while the crew aboard the first Potez was slightly injured, two crew who were preparing the second Potez were killed. Both pilots killed were Cpl Roland Dambricourt and Sgt Georges Fond.

Crash of a Breguet 14 in Tours: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1922
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tours - Tours
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Tours-Parçay-Meslay Airbase on a local test flight, carrying one pilot and one radiotelegraphist who should complete radio communication tests. During initial climb, at a height of 300 metres, the aircraft caught fire. It went out of control, entered a dive and crashed near the airport, killing both occupants.
Crew:
Adjutant Colas, pilot,
Mr. Cony, radio.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, according to the French Army, it is possible that the accident was the consequence of backfiring from the carburettor or sparks coming from the wireless telegraph equipment.