Country
code

Pyrénées-Atlantiques

Crash of a Fokker 100 in Pau: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 2007 at 1124 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-GMPG
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pau - Paris
MSN:
11362
YOM:
1991
Flight number:
AF7775
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
50
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
6135
Captain / Total hours on type:
2948.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6295
Copilot / Total hours on type:
287
Aircraft flight hours:
28586
Aircraft flight cycles:
34886
Circumstances:
Following a normal takeoff acceleration on runway 13 at Pau-Pyrénées Airport, the pilot-in-command started the rotation when the aircraft immediately rolled to the left. Then it rolled to the right and to the left again, lost height, struck the ground and bounced. At a speed of about 160 knots, the crew reduced the engine power when the aircraft rolled to the right of the runway, struck the perimeter fence then collided with a truck driving along a road. Upon touchdown, both main landing gears were torn off and the aircraft slid on its belly before coming to rest in an open field located 535 metres past the runway end. All 54 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The truck's driver was killed while his colleague was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The accident resulted from a loss of control caused by the presence of ice contamination on the surface of the wings associated with insufficient consideration of the weather during the stopover, and by the rapid rotation pitch, a reflex reaction to a flight of birds.
Contributing factors:
- Limited awareness within the aviation community regarding the risks associated with the icing on the ground and changes in the performance of the aircraft involved in this phenomenon;
- The sensitivity of small aircraft not equipped with burners to the effects of ice on the ground;
- Insufficient awareness of the crew of procedures for the tactile verification of the condition of the surfaces in icing conditions and the lack of implementation by the operator of an adapted organization;
- The ordinary aspect of the flight including the weather encountered, which was not likely to incite the crew to particular vigilance.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 737-228 in Biarritz

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1999 at 2010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-GBYA
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris - Biarritz
MSN:
23000
YOM:
1982
Flight number:
AF7638
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
91
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Air France Flight 7638, a Boeing 737-228, operated on a domestic flight from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport to Biarritz. The co-pilot on the flight was Pilot Flying (PF). While en route, about an hour before arrival, the flight crew listened out the ATIS frequency. The latest report mentioned a visibility of 10 km, a headwind of 15 to 30 kt and rain. When descending towards Biarritz the crew obtained an avoidance heading to bypass a thunderstorm cell. The flight was subsequently cleared for an ILS DME Cat I for runway 27. In the four minutes before landing, the visibility was 1500 metres in a squall, wind 6 kt with gusts to 3 kt, its direction changing from 250° to 290°, with variations up to 330°. The Vref is 129 kt and the Vapp 149 kt. The controller cleared the flight for landing and indicated a wind of 250° at 16 kt, gusts to 30 kt and heavy rain. The first officer disconnected the autopilot and autothrottle at an altitude of approximately 1200 ft, while established on the ILS. As the aircraft descended through 1100 feet, the captain was able to see the runway ahead. On short final, the controller reported a wind of 280° at 15 to 30 kt. The aircraft gradually deviated to the left of the centre line. The captain said: "a little to the left". The aircraft then gradually returned to align with the runway centreline. The PF banked the aircraft to the left as it slightly overshot the runway centreline. The aircraft passed the threshold approximately 4 m to the right of the centreline, parallel to it, with its wings horizontal. The PF started the flare with a slight bank to the left. The thrust reduction occurred a few seconds later. The left main gear touched the runway first at an indicated airspeed of 148 kt, while the aircraft was 12 m to the left of the runway centreline. The aircraft moved 7 m to the left, rolling on the only left main gear for about two seconds. The PF used the control column and the rudder pedals to steer the airplane to the right. The right main gear touched the runway while the left wheels were about 3 m from the edge of the runway. The PF corrected the trajectory using the rudders, without using the full amplitude. The aircraft exited the runway on the left at a speed of 133 kt. The nose gear struck the concrete support of a light and broke. The right gear was damaged and the aircraft rolled approximately 400 m off the runway and came to rest near the runway, 1150 m from the threshold.
Probable cause:
The pilot flying experienced wind rotation below decision altitude without being aware of the crosswind corrections to be made during the flare. He did not have the necessary availability to analyse the reasons for the destabilisation in the short final. Without communication within the crew, the PF acted alone, with few external markers and found himself overloaded during touchdown. The slope of the runway also limited the forward visibility of the pilots.

Crash of a Morane-Saulnier M.S.760 Paris I in Biarritz

Date & Time: May 29, 1982
Operator:
Registration:
96
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vélizy-Villacoublay – Biarritz
MSN:
96
YOM:
1961
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a flight from Vélizy-Villacoublay to Biarritz when it crashed upon landing in unclear circumstances. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/A-H2 Turbo Porter in Sévignacq: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1980 at 1800 LT
Operator:
Registration:
F-BKRQ
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lasclaveries - Lasclaveries
MSN:
548
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Lasclaveries Aerodrome in the afternoon on a local skydiving flight. After all skydivers jump out, the pilot reduced his altitude to return to the airfield. On approach, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a field located in Sévignacq, about 3 km northeast of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Nord 2501 Noratlas in Pau: 32 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1971 at 1454 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
49/F-RABB
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pau - Pau
MSN:
49
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
32
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Pau-Uzein Airport on a local training flight with nine crew members and 25 paratroopers, on behalf of the Escadron de Transport 2/63 Bigorre. Few minutes after takeoff, the captain informed ground about an engine fire and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. On final approach, the airplane nosed down then crashed in a huge explosion few km short of runway. Two passengers were injured while 32 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Mallet,
Cpt Remy,
Adj Abdi,
Adj Sion,
Mdlc Carlu,
Mdlc Gruselle,
Sgt Piccerelle,
Sgt Tondeur,
Mdl Perron.
Passengers:
S/Lt Berthe,
S/Lt Boju,
S/Lt Cartal,
S/Lt Coullerez,
S/Lt Delarche,
S/Lt Del Toso,
S/Lt Dhome,
S/Lt Ducatillon,
S/Lt Erba,
S/Lt Flori,
S/Lt Guillamet,
S/Lt Kerleguer,
S/Lt Labriet,
S/Lt Lanterme,
S/Lt Lafitte,
S/Lt Megevand,
S/Lt Peters,
S/Lt Pina,
S/Lt Py,
S/Lt Rousseau,
S/Lt Sensfelder,
S/Lt Tachet,
S/Lt Zangarelli.
Probable cause:
Engine fire for unknown reason.