Pas-de-Calais | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

After takeoff from Lens-Bénifontaine, while climbing to a height of 1,000 meters, the pilot initiated a turn to gain more altitude when the engine failed. The aircraft entered a dive and crashed in a stone-pit located near the airport. Two skydivers were seriously injured while eight other occupants were killed. A day later, one of the survivor died from his injuries.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during climb for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvair in Le Touquet

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvair

Operator:

Registration:

G-APNH

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Southend – Le Touquet

MSN:

11/18333

YOM:

1965

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The approach to Le Touquet Airport was completed in strong crosswinds. Upon touchdown, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest 1,550 meters from threshold. All 18 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 21 in Le Touquet

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1958 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 170 Freighter

Operator:

Registration:

F-BHVB

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

12731

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

On final approach to Le Touquet Airport, the aircraft was too low and struck a beacon. The crew continued the approach and upon touchdown, the undercarriage failed. The airplane sank on its belly and came to rest, damaged beyond repair. The crew were uninjured.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Le Touquet

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

VH-BDX

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Le Touquet – Croydon

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

Crashed on takeoff at Le Touquet Airport for unknown reason. Both occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The aircraft was already damaged in a wheels-up landing near Cranbrook, Kent, after an engine failure over the English Channel on February 6, 1950. It suffered a second accident on November 18, 1950 near Boulogne, France.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.65 Consul in Berck-sur-Mer

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.65 Consul

Operator:

Registration:

G-AIDY

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

3094

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was on its way from Redhill, Surrey to France when, approaching Berck-sur-Mer, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. While both occupants were unarmed, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Supermarine Walrus off Sangatte

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Supermarine Walrus

Operator:

Registration:

L2284

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Circumstances:

While on a maritime patrol flight over The Channel, the crew was forced to ditch the aircraft following a loss of power on one or both engines. The seaplane crashed five miles off Sangatte and sank. Both crew members were rescued.

Probable cause:

Loss of engine power.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando in Hesdin: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

44-77653

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

33049

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

Crashed in the forest of Hesdin, two km north of the village of Hesdin, while on a supply mission. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Ned Driggers,
1st Lt Edward C. Koenig,
T/Sgt Francis V. Walsh.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I off Wissant: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

ME743

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The crew was taking part to a bombing mission over the Mimoyecques airfield. In flight, the bomber was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea off Wissant. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (44th Squadron):
F/L F. X. Merrick,
Sgt R. D. J. C. Carling,
F/O J. Poulter,
F/O R. N. Bartlett,
Sgt C. Dickinson,
Sgt H. P. Warll,
Sgt J. W. Thomas.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-105-CO Liberator in Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise: 10 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1944 at 1509 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

42-109814

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Wendling - Wendling

MSN:

3610

Location:

Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise

Pas-de-Calais

Country:

France

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

The four engine aircraft christened 'Jive Bomber' was involved in a bombing mission over Germany when it was hit by Flak while flying over Pas-de-Calais, France. The right wing was hit and sheared off, so the aircraft went into a spin and crashed in a field. All ten occupants were killed.
Crew (392nd BG):
P 2/LT Walter F. Lowry,
CP 2/LT Albert I. Victor,
N 2/LT James J. Hynes Jr,
B 2/LT Wendell G. Replogle,
R/O T/S James V. Clark Jr,
EnG S/S Clair A. Cashman,
BG S/S Lynn B. Farlow,
WG S/S Joseph A. Kenney Jr,
WG S/S Paul E. Delaney,
TG S/S Kenneth L. Isbell.

Probable cause:

Shot down by Flak.

Crash of a Martin B-26B-50-MA Marauder in Febvin-Palfart: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

42-95849

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The bomber aircraft left RAF Matching Green for a bombing mission when it was hit by Flak while overflying Pas-de-Calais, France. The aircraft crashed in flames in an open field and was destroyed. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
First Lieutenant Frank Bernzen Jr, pilot,
Second Lieutenant John D. Hill, copilot,
Second Lieutenant Thomas R. Dragonetti, navigator,
Technical Sergeant Thaddeus H. Grace, radio,
Staff Sergeant Gale F. Brown, engineer,
Staff Sergeant John F. La Plante, tail gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by Flak.