Istres-Le Tubé | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane was engaged in a local training flight out from Mas de Rus, a temporary satellite runway located about 5 km west of Istres-Le Tubé AFB. Immediately after liftoff, the airplane stalled and crashed, killing both crew members.
Crew:
Lt Col Charles Berthelon, Chief,
Adj Denis André Guiral, pilot.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a premature liftoff.

Crash of a Caudron C.445M Goéland at Istres AFB

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1940 at 1030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Caudron C.440 Goéland

Operator:

Registration:

T-908

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Istres - Istres

MSN:

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed Istres-Le Tubé on a local training flight. On final approach, the instructor regained control and initiated a sharp turn to join the runway. Doing so, one of the wing impacted the ground and the aircraft crashed. All three crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Sgt/C Pradel, instructor,
Sgt Gayde, pilot,
Sgt Daubigné, pilot.

Probable cause:

The pilot under instruction was not properly aligned with the runway. Thus, the instructor regained control and initiated a sharp turn, causing the airplane to struck the ground and to crash. Obviously, this manoeuvre was not compliant. Poor judgement.

Crash of a Bloch MB.210 in Saint-Martin-d’Août: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1939 at 1310 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bloch MB.210

Operator:

Registration:

E-856

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Avord - Istres

MSN:

183

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

En route from Avord to Istres to transfer the squadron, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy snow falls. All six crewmen decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in Saint-Martin-d'Août, some 32 northeast of Valence. Four crewmen were injured and two others were killed as their parachute failed to open. Crew from the 51st Bomb Squad.
Crew:
Sgt Daniel Dugourd, pilot,
Lt Gilbert Bonnardel, Chief,
Adj/C Henri Bouvet, observer, †
Sgt André Bozon, radio operator,
Sgt Henri Porcher, mechanic,
Cpl/C Jean Lucas, radio. †

Crash of a Caudron C.445 Goéland in Cardet: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1939 at 1240 LT

Type of aircraft:

Caudron C.440 Goéland

Operator:

Registration:

T-895

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Avord - Istres

MSN:

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Circumstances:

En route from Avord to Istres to transfer the squadron, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy snow falls. The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Cardet, about 12 km south of Alès. All three crew members from the 51st Bomb Squad were killed.
Crew:
Adj Camille Mabile, pilot,
Sgt Pierre Gasparini, pilot,
Sgt François Croguennec, mechanic.

Crash of a Caudron C.445 Goéland in Saint-Sorlin-en-Valloire

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Caudron C.440 Goéland

Operator:

Registration:

T-923

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Avor

MSN:

Location:

Saint-Sorlin-en-Valloire

Drôme

Country:

France

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

En route from Avord to Istres to transfer the squadron, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy snow falls. The captain attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in a swamp located in Saint-Sorlin-en-Valloire. All three crew members from the 51st Bomb Squad were uninjured.

Crash of a Caudron C.445 Goéland on Peak Cassini: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Caudron C.440 Goéland

Operator:

Registration:

T-913

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Avord - Istres

MSN:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Avord to Istres to transfer the squadron, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy snow falls. Too low, the airplane impacted the slope of Peak Cassini and was totally destroyed upon impact. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated and the wreckage was found six days later at an altitude of 1,600 metres. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Roger Lardeau, pilot,
2cl Jaroslav Novak, pilot,
Sgt Jean Henriquet, mechanic.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Caudron C.445 Goéland in Valence

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Caudron C.440 Goéland

Operator:

Registration:

T-903

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Avord - Istres

MSN:

Location:

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Circumstances:

En route from Avord to Istres to transfer the squadron, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy snow falls. All occupants decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in the district of Paillassier, in the suburb of Valence. There were no casualties. Crew from the 51st Bomb Squad.

Crash of a Bloch MB.200 in Le Breuil

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Bloch MB.200

Operator:

Registration:

E-932

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Avord - Istres

MSN:

133

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

En route from Avord to Istres to transfer the squadron, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy snow falls. All three crew decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that entered a dive and crashed in a field located in Le Breuil, four km east of Le Creusot. All three crewmen from the 51st Bomb Squad were uninjured.

Crash of a Caudron C.445 Goéland in Sablons

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Caudron C.440 Goéland

Operator:

Registration:

T-907

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Avord - Istres

MSN:

Location:

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Region:

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Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

En route from Avord to Istres to transfer the squadron, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy snow falls. The piot attempted an emergency landing in a snowy field located in Sablons, northwest of Saint-Rambert-d'Albon. Upon touchdown, the twin engine aircraft flipped over and crashed. All three crewmen were seriously injured ande the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew:
Sgt Franck Barbet, pilot,
Cpl Jan Cerny, pilot,
Sgt Léon Colombier, mechanic.

Crash of a Caudron C.630 Simoun in Lespéron

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Caudron C.630/C.635 Simoun

Operator:

Registration:

345

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Avord - Istres

MSN:

345

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Avord to Istres to transfer the squadron, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy snow falls. Apparently lost, the crew decided to attempt an emergency landing when the aircraft belly landed in a snow covered field. Both pilots were uninjured.

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