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Pyrénées-Orientales

Crash of a Heinkel He.111B in Le Tech: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1939 at 0220 LT
Type of aircraft:
Heinkel He.111
Operator:
Registration:
25-12
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
2214
Location:
Le Tech
Pyrénées-Orientales
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a night combat mission. After being pursued by Republican fighters, the crew flew to France when the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Le Tech. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Dewoitine D.338 near Corsavy: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1938 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Dewoitine D.338
Operator:
Registration:
F-AQBB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Dakar – Casablanca – Oran – Toulouse – Paris
MSN:
02
YOM:
1937
Location:
Corsavy
Pyrénées-Orientales
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While cruising over the Pyrénées Mountains, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with reduced visibility caused by heavy snow falls. At an altitude of 2,100 metres, the three engine aircraft impacted the slope of the Cinq Croix Peak, exploded and came to rest the 'Ravin de la Prison', near the Las Indis Mines, some 35 km southwest of Perpignan. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Henri Guy, pilot,
André Leymarios, radio navigator,
Etienne Duthuron, engineer.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Bloch MB.200 in Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Bloch MB.200
Operator:
Registration:
E-943
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Perpignan - Perpignan
MSN:
144
Location:
Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque
Pyrénées-Orientales
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While performing an exercice out from Perpignan-Rivesaltes Airport, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crashed in an open field located in Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque, some 10 km northeast of the airport. All five crew members evacuated safely and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Sgt Goblet,
Sgt Blanchard,
Slt Bourcet,
Sgt Faure,
Sgt Scheer.

Crash of a Latécoère 32/3 off Banyuls-sur-Mer: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Latécoère 32
Operator:
Registration:
F-AITX
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Algiers – Marseille
MSN:
84
YOM:
1928
Location:
Banyuls-sur-Mer
Pyrénées-Orientales
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew encountered strong headwinds all along the flight from Algiers to Marseille. After overflying Cape of Creus in Catalonia, both engines failed due to fuel exhaustion. The crew ditched the aircraft off Banyuls-sur-Mer, Pyrénées Orientales. The crew of the Spanish cargo named 'Stella' was quickly on the scene but during the towing operations, the float plane sank and the radio navigator Bossard drowned. The pilot Edmond Larbonne and the mechanic were rescued.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion due to strong headwinds in flight.

Crash of a Latécoère 340 off Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Latécoère 340
Operator:
Registration:
F-AKDI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque - Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque
MSN:
01
YOM:
1930
Location:
Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque
Pyrénées-Orientales
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed the Latécoère hydrabase near Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque to complete a local demo flight to the French Navy on this first prototype. In flight, the seaplane broke up in the air and crashed in the Etang de Salses. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Mr. Prévot, pilot,
Mr. Hoff, mechanic.
Probable cause:
The accident was ascribed to pilot error, with the suggestion that in his enthusiasm to demonstrate the aircraft's potential, the pilot exceeded the safe speed range.

Crash of a CAMS 56 off Cape Bear: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1930
Type of aircraft:
CAMS 56
Operator:
Registration:
F-AIOY
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Marseille – Algiers
MSN:
04
YOM:
1929
Location:
Port-Vendres
Pyrénées-Orientales
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising off the French coast on a mail flight from Marseille to Algiers, the crew encountered an engine failure. The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing off the Cape Bear but the sea was very rough. The aircraft crashed on landing and rescuers were grounded due to poor weather conditions. All operations were eventually suspended and no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.
Crew:
Robert Raynal, pilot,
Robert Languille, radio navigator,
Mr. Traverse, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Latécoère 17-3J in Saint-André: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1927
Type of aircraft:
Latécoère 17
Operator:
Registration:
F-AIGL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Casablanca – Málaga – Alicante – Barcelona – Perpignan – Toulouse
MSN:
622
YOM:
1926
Location:
Argelès-sur-Mer
Pyrénées-Orientales
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On the leg from Barcelona to Perpignan, the crew overflew the east part of the Pyrenees Mountains and was descending to Perpignan-La Llabanère Airport. Due to low visibility, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient. On approach, the aircraft crashed on a hill located in Saint-André, some 3 km west of Argelès-sur-Mer. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Alexandre Bury, pilot,
Georges Guyollot, copilot,
Léopold Servin, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Crew error.

Crash of a Breguet 14 Torpédo in Perpignan

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1926
Type of aircraft:
Breguet 14
Operator:
Registration:
F-AFEF
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Toulouse – Perpignan
MSN:
213
YOM:
1923
Location:
Perpignan-La Llabanère
Pyrénées-Orientales
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Perpignan-La Llabanère Airport, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Too low, the aircraft impacted the ground short of runway and came to rest, bursting into in flames. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and the pilot Paul Félix was seriously injured (burnt).

Crash of a Breguet 14 in Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines

Date & Time: May 8, 1922
Type of aircraft:
Breguet 14
Operator:
Registration:
F-ALFU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Perpignan – Barcelona
MSN:
3641/126
YOM:
1922
Location:
Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines
Pyrénées-Orientales
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Perpignan to Barcelona, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to make an emergency landing. The aircraft hit a tree and crashed in Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines. Both occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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