Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 off Marie-Galante: 15 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1978
Operator:
Registration:
F-OGHD
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pointe-à-Pitre - Marie-Galante
MSN:
469
YOM:
1975
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Pointe-à-Pitre on a schedule flight to the Island of Marie-Galante, carrying 19 passengers and one pilot. Weather conditions deteriorated en route and while approaching Marie-Galante, the ceiling was very low, about 200 feet above water with rain falls, turbulences and stormy conditions. While completing a slight turn to the left, the left wing tip struck the water surface. The aircraft crashed into the sea and sank by a depth of 13 meters few hundred meters offshore. Five passengers were rescued while 15 other occupants, among them the pilot, were killed. The wreckage was recovered. The aircraft was not equipped with a flight data recorder or an autopilot system.
Probable cause:
In the absence of a flight data recorder (not compulsory on this type of aircraft), investigators stated that their examination of the wreck showed no evidence of a technical failure of the aircraft or of its engines or equipment prior to impact, and that the probable cause of the accident was the decision taken by the pilot to descend in cloud to try to establish visual contact with the ground or the sea. The absence of an autopilot system (it was not installed in the aircraft) was acknowledge by the commission. It was reported that the airline had requested and obtained from the French CAA an exemption to fly this aircraft with only one pilot, but the said exemption mentioned that an operative autopilot system was compulsory for all flights, which was not the case for this aircraft. Prior to the accident, the Pilot's Association had officially protested in writing about the total lack of implementation of these provisions by the airline, about the pressures exerted onto the pilots to accept such flights in the absence of ATC radar coverage, of airborne weather radar, DME and transponder equipment, together with inadequate maintenance practices.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando off Goyave

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N74689
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Roseau - Christiansted
MSN:
32975
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While in normal cruise on a cargo flight from Roseau to Christiansted, the left engine lost hydraulic pressure. The crew shut down the engine and feathered its propeller when the right engine misfired shortly later. In such conditions, the captain reduced his altitude and ditched the aircraft off Goyave. All four occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine due to hydraulic pressure issue for unknown reasons. The right engine also partially failed probably after being subject to an excessive use.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-6 near Pointe-à-Pitre: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
8P-AAC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Port of Spain – Marigot
MSN:
14918/26362
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The departure from Port of Spain was delayed for unknown reason and enroute, the crew was informed that the airport at Marigot was closed to traffic. The captain decided to divert to Pointe-à-Pitre-Le Raizet Airport. While descending by night, the crew failed to realize that his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck trees, stalled and crashed in a dense wooded area located on the volcano La Soufrière, some 25 km southwest of Pointe-à-Pitre. Both pilots were killed in the accident.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando in Pointe-à-Pitre: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-792
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
33060
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route to Colombia on a cargo flight, the crew informed ATC about technical problems and was cleared to divert to Pointe-à-Pitre-Le Raizet Airport for an emergency landing. On final, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames. Both pilots were killed and two other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Boeing 707-328C on Mt La Soufrière: 63 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1968 at 2032 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-BLCJ
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Santiago de Chile – Caracas – Pointe-à-Pitre – Lisbon – Paris
MSN:
19724
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
AF212
Country:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
52
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
63
Captain / Total flying hours:
18215
Captain / Total hours on type:
4415.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4737
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1842
Aircraft flight hours:
46
Circumstances:
Air France Flight 212 was a scheduled service from Santiago (Chile) to Paris (France) with en route stops at Quito (Ecuador), Caracas (Venezuela), Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) and Lisbon (Portugal). The flight was operated by a brand new Boeing 707, named "Château de Lavoûte-Polignac", which had just been delivered to Air France a month and a half before the accident. The aircraft took off from Caracas at 19:27 for an estimated one hour and eight-minute flight to Pointe-à-Pitre on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. The aircraft climbed to a cruising altitude of FL330 and the flight crew contacted the Piarco FIR controller at approximately 19:53 hours. They reported flying at FL330 and estimating over Piarco at 20:00, over the OA reporting point at 20:09 and reaching Pointe-à-Pitre at 20:32. At approximately 20:09 the flight reported over OA and requested authorization to descend in five minutes time. Piarco cleared the flight to the Guadeloupe radio beacon at FL90 and asked it to report when leaving FL330 and when reaching FL150. At 20:14, three minutes sooner than planned, the crew reported leaving FL330. Seven minutes later they reported passing FL150. It was then cleared to contact the Guadeloupe ACC and was advised that an aircraft proceeding from Martinique to Guadeloupe was flying at FL80 and estimating Guadeloupe at 20:44 hours. About 20:24 the flight reached the cleared altitude of FL90. After several unsuccessful attempts the flight established radio contact with Pointe-à-Pitre Tower at 20:29. It was again cleared to FL90, given a QNH of 1016 mb and requested to report at FL90, or runway in sight. Following a different route than normal, the airplane passed a brightly lit town (Basse Terre) on the coast of Guadeloupe. The pilot-in-command probably erroneously believed that it was Pointe-à-Pitre and that he would reach Le Raizet Airport in approximately one minute. At 20:29:35 the crew replied that the aircraft was at FL90 and they estimated they would be over the airport in approximately 1-1,5 minute. Less than one minute later they reported seeing the airport and were cleared for a visual approach to runway 11. The aircraft then descended over mountainous terrain and passed Saint Claude at an altitude of approximately 4,400 ft. Flight 212 was observed to impact on the southern slope of La Découverte, the peak of the La Soufrière Volcano, at an elevation of 1,200 m (3,937 ft).
Probable cause:
The accident resulted from a visual approach procedure at night in which the descent as begun from a point which was incorrectly identified. For lack of sufficient evidence (flight recorder was not recovered, condition and location of wreckage), the Commission was not able to establish the sequence of events which led to this crew error.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 707 in Pointe-à-Pitre: 113 killed

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1962 at 0403 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-BHST
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Paris – Lisbon – Santa Maria – Pointe-à-Pitre – Caracas – Bogotá – Lima – Santiago de Chile
MSN:
18247
YOM:
1962
Flight number:
AF117
Country:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
103
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
113
Aircraft flight hours:
963
Circumstances:
While descending to Pointe-à-Pitre on a flight from Paris to Santiago de Chile, the crew encountered poor weather conditions at destination, worse than forecast. On approach by night, the four engine aircraft struck the slope of a hill (427 m) located 25 km northwest of Le Raizet Airport. The aircraft crashed in flames in a dense wooded area and was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All 113 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the VOR was unserviceable and the approach was possible via an NDB only. Weather conditions were poor with low visibility due to thunderstorm activity in the area. Also, the aircraft was off course by 15 km due to interference on the ADF systems caused by the thunderstorm activity.
Crew:
Mr. Lesieur, pilot,
Mr. Farret, copilot,
Mr. Hurlimann, navigator,
Mr. Pruvost, mechanic,
Mrs. Micoud, stewaradess,
Mrs. D’Horne, stewardess,
Mrs. Page, stewardess,
Mr. Epper, steward,
Mr. Gassler, steward,
Mr. Cage, steward.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- Poor weather conditions at destination, worse than forecast,
- Lack of visibility due to weather combined with the night,
- The VOR of Pointe-à-Pitre was unserviceable at the time of the accident,
- The approach was possible via an NDB only,
- The ADF indications were incorrect due to thunderstorm activity (atmospheric effects), causing the aircraft to be off course by 15 km.