Country

Crash of a Potez 25 in Altos: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
7
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Asunción – San Bernardino
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft was on its way from Asunción to San Bernardino with two passengers and a pilot on board. While approaching the destination, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to fog and failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane impacted the ground and crashed in an open field located in Altos, about 10 km north of San Bernardino. The wreckage was spotted few hours later by the crew of a Brazilian Air Force's Waco. All three occupants were killed, among them General José Félix Estigarribia, President of the Republic of Paraguay and his wife who were travelling to their private house located on the shore of Lake Ypacaraí.
Crew:
Maj Carmelo Peralta, pilot.
Passengers:
General José Félix Estigarribia,
Mrs. Julia Miranda Cueto.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Potez 25 in Tours

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1940 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1362
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rennes - Tours - Clermont-Ferrand
MSN:
1362
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Rennes on a solo flight to Clermont-Ferrand with an intermediate stop in Tours. For unknown reasons, the aircraft crashed upon landing at Tours-Parçay-Meslay Airport. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and the pilot was slightly injured.
Crew:
S/Lt Petit, pilot.

Crash of a Potez 25 in Vélizy-Villacoublay

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1940 at 1145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2010
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rennes - Vélizy-Villacoublay
MSN:
2010
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Vélizy-Villacoublay Airport, the aircraft crashed due to a fuel exhaustion. The pilot was uninjured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew:
Sgt/C Jean Bétrancourt, pilot.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Potez 25 in Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1152
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cazaux - Cazaux
MSN:
1152
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Cazaux AFB on a training mission. For unknown reasons, he was forced to attempt an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in an open field. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot escaped uninjured.

Crash of a Potez 25A.2 in Clermont-Ferrand: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 13, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2160
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Clermont-Ferrand - Clermont-Ferrand
MSN:
2160
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed for unknown reasons while taking off from Clermont-Ferrand-Aulnat Airport on a local training flight. A crew was killed and the second was seriously injured.
Crew:
S/Lt Walenty Bubowicz, pilot, †
Pvt Jacques Riteau, air gunner.

Crash of a Potez 25A.2 in Tournay-sur-Odon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1973
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Caen - Caen
MSN:
1973
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie out from Caen-Carpiquet Airport. In unclear circumstances, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in a field located in Tournay-sur-Odon, about 13 km southwest of Caen-Carpiquet Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed. The aircraft was coded 10.
Crew:
Sgt Gabriel Thénard, pilot,
Pvt Marcel Menant, air gunner.

Crash of a Potez 25A.2 in Fleury-sur-Orne: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1940 at 1750 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2084
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Caen - Caen
MSN:
2084
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Caen-Carpiquet Airport at 1710LT on a local gunnery/photo training flight. While flying in the vicinity of the airfield, the pilot initiated hazardous manoeuvres when he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in an open field located in Fleury-sur-Orne, some 5 km east of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and both occupants were killed. The aircraft was coded 31.
Crew:
Sgt/C André Simon, pilot,
Sgt René Brunet, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.

Crash of a Potez 25A.2 in Azinhaga: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
305
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Ota - Ota
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Ota Airbase on a flight to Azinhaga where a cousin of the pilot got married. Flying too low over the city, the airplane impacted the top of the church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição and crashed. Both occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpl Fernando Gomes,
Pvt José Maria Campos.

Crash of a Potez 25A.2 in Vieille-Église-en-Yvelines: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1940 at 1015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1852
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Vélizy-Villacoublay - Vélizy-Villacoublay
MSN:
1852
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie out from Vélizy-Villacoublay Airport. At an altitude of about 150 metres, the pilot-in-command initiated a vertical climb then a sharp turn to the right when the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an open field located in Vieille-Église-en-Yvelines near Rambouillet. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and both crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/Lt Tadeusz Zmijewski, pilot,
Asp Jacques Guespereau, observer.