Meurthe-et-Moselle | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While completing a local training flight at Chenevières-Saint-Clément AFB, the single engine aircraft crashed in the Mondon forest located north of the airbase. The crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK Skytrain at Rosières en Haye AFB

Date & Time: May 9, 1945 at 0804 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-48880

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

14696/26141

YOM:

1944

Location:

Toul-Rosières AFB (ex ALG A-98 Rosière en Haye)

Meurthe-et-Moselle

Country:

France

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total hours on type:

126.00

Circumstances:

Chronic drainage problems had left the runway uneven. A steady rise in the first 2,500 feet led a drop extending over the next 1,000 feet, creating a hump at the transition. Over the crest of the rise the runway also slanted to the left. Though challenging, 12 other planes in the formation had taken off successfully. This plane (#13) made it’s takeoff run straying somewhat left of center. On passing over the rise it became airborne. But with airspeed of 87-90 mph they began gear retraction. At this time they encountered propwash. There was also a mild crosswind blowing it left. Control was lost and the left wing dipped into contact with the ground, spinning the plane 135 degrees. It came to rest in this attitude and immediately started to burn, 50 yards west of runway, approx. 630 feet past mid-runway. It was ferrying 700 gallons (6160 lbs) of gasoline in its fuselage. Four crew members exited via the top escape hatch. The radio operator exited through the compartment door. Only he escaped injury. The others had minor injuries. Since the copilot is known to have sustained burns to his hands during escape this is likely one injury common among the other four.
Crew:
2nd Lt Abraham R. Silver, pilot,
2nd Lt Robert E. Smith, copilot,
Cpl Arthur H. Niehoff, radio operator,
S/Sgt Chester R. Somber, crew chief,
1st Lt Ruth Cannon, army nurse.

Probable cause:

It is the opinion of the investigating committee that pilot error was the major cause of the accident. The plane did not follow a true course down the runway and did not have enough flying speed to remain airborne in propwash. The gear was in the process if being retracted. However, the runway has a definite hump at approximately the point that loaded C-47 type aircraft normally become airborne, the runway definitely slopes to the left and the pilot had a slight crosswind from the right. It is felt that these factors did contribute to the accident in a minor degree but all other planes of this squadron took off under the same conditions without mishap.
Contributing factors:
- Faulty runways,
- Propwash,
- Unfavorable winds.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper in Jarny: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-68695

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

11622

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in flames in a field located in Jarny. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt David L. Brown,
1st Lt James J. Murphy,
T/Sgt John W. Smith Jr.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-135-CO Liberator in Longuyon: 11 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

42-110093

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

3889

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was on its way for a bombing mission over Karlsruhe. While overflying Lorraine, the four engine bomber crashed in unclear circumstances in Longuyon, killing all 11 occupants.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster in Pot-de-Vin: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1944 at 0130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

L7576

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Mildenhall - Mildenhall

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew left RAF Mildenhall at 2200LT on July 28 on a bombing mission to Stuttgart. While cruising by night over east of France, the bomber was shot dowb by the Lt Walter Swoboda and crashed in a uninhabited area, some 50 km west of Strasbourg. Five crew members were killed while two others were rescued.
Crew (622nd Squadron):
F/O Harold Sherman Peabody, †
F/O G. J. Wishart,
F/O James Harrington Doe, †
F/O R. L. Fiddick,
Sgt Arthur Payton, wireless operator and air gunner, †
F/Sgt Richard Godfrey Proulx, air gunner, †
Sgt Percy William Buckley, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Choloy-Ménillot: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1941 at 0415 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

X9794

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Elsham Wolds - Elsham Wolds

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Elsham Wolds at 1827LT on an operation to Mannheim. It crashed in unknown circumstances in Choloy-Ménillot, about 6 km southwest of Toul. The pilot was killed, four others became PoW and a sixth evaded.
Crew:
Sgt Clifford William Onions, pilot,
F/Lt Elvey Vincent Lawson,
Sgt Harry Mossley,
Sgt William Samuel Coldwell Partridge,
Sgt Charles Llewellyn Williams,
Sgt A. W. Mills.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111H-2 at Chambley-Bussières AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1940 at 0630 LT

Type of aircraft:

Heinkel He.111

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Chambley-Bussières AFB

Meurthe-et-Moselle

Country:

France

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was engaged in a reconnaissance mission over Metz when it was shot down by the pilot of an RAF Hurricane. The aircraft disintegrated in the air and crashed near Chambley-Bussières Airbase. All four crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by an RAF fighter.

Crash of a Blériot Spad 56/5 in Toul: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1928 at 0915 LT

Type of aircraft:

Blériot Spad 56

Operator:

Registration:

F-AIEP

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Toul – Clermont-Ferrand

MSN:

5/4207

YOM:

1926

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Croix-de-Metz Airport located in Toul, Meurthe-et-Moselle, while climbing to a height of 150 meters, the engine lost power and failed. The pilot tried to maintain speed and attitude but the aircraft stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Crew:
Gabriel Hanin, pilot,
Maurice Villuis, radio,
Henri Vidal, mechanic.
Passengers:
Jean-Abel Lefranc, General Secretary of CIDNA,
Maurice Bokanowski, Minister of Commerce and Industry.

Probable cause:

It was confirmed that the engine failed during climb but the exact cause of the failure could not be determined.