France | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was performing a liaison flight on behalf of the contingent based at Lann-Bihoué NAS. En route, the right engine caught fire and the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing in a prairie. While all occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was partially destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

The right engine caught fire in flight.

Crash of a SNCASO SO.95 Corse II in France

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1960

Type of aircraft:

SNCASO SO.95 Corse

Operator:

Registration:

56.S.17

Flight Phase:

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YOM:

1947

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The twin engine aircraft crash landed in a field, lost its undercarriage and came to rest, broken in two. There were no injuries but the aircraft was written off. The exact date of the occurrence remains unknown.

Crash of a Dassault M.D.315 Flamant in France

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Dassault M.D.315 Flamant

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

YOM:

1949

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Belly landed somewhere in France while performing a test flight for the manufacturer Avions Marcel Dassault.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow I in Normandy

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow

Operator:

Registration:

K6937

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

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En route, an engine failed, forcing the crew to divert to the nearest US airfield. On touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a USAF parked C-47. Both aircraft were destroyed and the fate of the crew remains unknown as well as the exact place of occurrence.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston III in France

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Operator:

Registration:

AL459

Flight Phase:

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Schedule:

Ford - Ford

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The crew was returning to the RAF Ford in West Sussex following the attack of a German airbase located near Évreux, France. Following an uneventful mission, the crew was returning to his base when he lost control of the aircraft that crashed in an open field located in the north part of France. While all three occupants were slightly injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (23th Squadron):
P/O R. R. Coventry,
Sgt R. R. Gunning,
Sgt W. N. Barlow.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow II in France

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow

Operator:

Registration:

K6996

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Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in France, while taking part to an evacuation mission. Crew from the 271st Squadron.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley III in France

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

K9008

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

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Schedule:

Villeneuve-les-Vertus - Villeneuve-les-Vertus

MSN:

1461

YOM:

1939

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The aircraft departed Villeneuve-les-Vertus at the end of the day bound for Frankfurt on the 'Nickel' mission (leaflet dropping). While overflying east part of France, the crew encountered severe icing conditions and an engine fired. The captain attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in a field. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and all five crewmen were unhurt.
Crew (51st Squadron):
F/A J. H. P. Wynton,
Sgt D. C. Hide,
Sgt W. Foster,
Cpl E. Short,
AC1 A. J. Heller.

Probable cause:

Emergency landing following severe icing conditions and engine fire.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley III in France

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

K8984

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

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Schedule:

Villeneuve-les-Vertus - Villeneuve-les-Vertus

MSN:

1437

YOM:

1938

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Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Villeneuve-les-Vertus at 1805LT on 27 October, taking part to the operation 'Nickel' over Munich. On the return flight, while overflying the east part of France at night and in severe icing conditions, the captain instructed the crew to abandon the aircraft. Four crewmen bailed out while the air gunner did not hear the order and was still in his turret when the aircraft crashed in an open field. The air gunner was slightly injured while all four other crew were unhurt.
Crew (51st Squadron):
Sgt T. W. Bowles,
Sgt A. A. Emery,
Sgt E. J. Barber,
AC1 R. Jackson,
Sgt A. Griffin, air gunner, injured.

Probable cause:

Aircraft abandoned due to severe icing conditions.