Country
France
code

Mayenne

Crash of a Beechcraft E90 King Air on Mt des Avaloirs: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1998 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 90 King Air
Operator:
Société Soon
Registration:
F-GABV
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Toussus-le-Noble – Bagnoles-de-l’Orne
MSN:
LW-102
YOM:
1974
Location:
Mt des Avaloirs
Mayenne
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Toussus-le-Noble, the pilot was cleared to descend to Bagnoles-de-l’Orne Airport located about 37 km northwest of Alençon. On final, weather conditions were poor with low clouds when the aircraft struck the slope of Mt des Avaloirs (417 metres high) located 20 km short of runway 30. The wreckage was found 104 metres below the summit and both occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the ceiling was up to 100 metres from the ground.
Probable cause:
The pilot was completing the approach under VFR mode in IMC conditions, resulting in a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Nord 262B-11 in Craon

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Nord 262
Operator:
Registration:
F-BLHT
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lyon - Tours - Craon - Lyon
MSN:
5
YOM:
1964
Location:
Craon
Mayenne
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Lyon-Bron Airport that day on a flight to Tours to prepare for a demonstration mission, taking part to an airshow in Craon. After a brief en-route stop at Tours-Saint Symphorien Airport, the crew continued to Craon, completed a low pass then decided to return to Lyon-Bron. Few minutes later, both engines stopped due to fuel exhaustion. The captain reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in an open field. While all five occupants evacuated safely, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that both engines stopped due to fuel exhaustion. Investigations reported that the crew failed to prepare the flight according to published procedures and no fuel was added in the tanks prior to departure from Lyon-Bron Airport. During the stop at Tours Airport, the crew failed to check the fuel quantities and no additional fuel was added.

Crash of a Caudron C.440 Goéland in Châtillon-sur-Colmont: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Caudron C.440 Goéland
Operator:
Secrétariat Général de l'Aviation Civile - SGAC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Topographic
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Paris - Paris
Location:
Châtillon-sur-Colmont
Mayenne
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was returning to Paris-Le Bourget following a cartographic mission. After sunset, while flying at low height, the aircraft hit a tree and crashed in a field in Châtillon-sur-Colmont. All four occupants, two photographs and two pilots, among them Robert Leriche, were killed. The accident occurred in May (the exact date remains unclear).

Crash of a Heinkel He.111H-3 near Laval: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1941 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Heinkel He.111
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Vannes - Dijon
MSN:
3320
Location:
Laval
Mayenne
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was transferred from Vannes to Dijon-Longvic AFB when it crashed in unknown circumstances near Laval. Two crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
Ofw Reinhold Wiessner, pilot, †
Ofw Erich Kraft, mechanic, †
Fw Karl Schray, radio operator,
Uffz Alfred Schnülgen, mechanic.

Crash of a Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Lignières-Orgères: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1940 at 2230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
N1362
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Jersey - Jersey
MSN:
1526
YOM:
1939
Location:
Lignières-Orgères
Mayenne
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Following a bombing mission of the Fiat manufacturing plant in Torino, the airplane was returning to its base in Jersey when it crashed in unknown circumstances in Lignières-Orgères. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Norman M. Songest, pilot,
Sgt Philip H. J. Budden, pilot,
Sgt Alexander Findlay, observer,
Sgt Ronald C. Astbury, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Edward Ombler, wireless operator and air gunner.
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