Crash of a Dassault Falcon 10 in Romorantin-Lanthenay: 2 killed
Date & Time:
Oct 31, 1972
Operator:
Registration:
F-WFAL
Survivors:
No
MSN:
001
YOM:
1970
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew (a pilot and a flight engineer) were engaged in a test flight on this first Dassault Falcon 10 prototype of the French manufacturer Avions Marcel Dassault (Dassault Aviation). While cruising at an altitude of 15,000 feet and a speed of 360 knots, control was lost. The airplane entered a dive and crashed in an open field located in Loreux, about 8 km northeast of Romorantin-Lanthenay. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Crew:
Alain Tretout, pilot,
Jacques Ladeux, flight engineer.
Crew:
Alain Tretout, pilot,
Jacques Ladeux, flight engineer.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the tail separated in flight following an excessive pressure on the vertical stab while cruising at high speed.
