Country
code

Yvelines

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 451 in Vélizy-Villacoublay: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1940 at 1105 LT
Operator:
Registration:
L-850
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Vélizy-Villacoublay - Vélizy-Villacoublay
MSN:
314
YOM:
1940
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 test flight after the airplane just came out from manufacture. Shortly after liftoff, while climbing to a height of 15 metres, one of the engine lost power and emitted black smoke. The pilot retracted the landing gear to pass over the Bois du Loup Pendu but the airplane losing height, he lowered the gear when the airplane veered to the right and crashed, bursting into flames. Both occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lucien Louis Ciavarini, pilot,
Constant François Camus, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Loss of engine power shortly after takeoff for unknown reasons.

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.

Crash of a Farman F.192 in Buc

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1940 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-AJCD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Etempes - Etempes
MSN:
7134.2
YOM:
1929
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a training sortie out from Étempes, the airplane was approaching the airfield of Buc at low speed when it was caught by strong winds, lost height, impacted ground and crashed. All three crew members evacuated safely. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Lt Caboz, pilot,
Lt Segalla, mechanic.
Passenger:
Lt Fournier.
Probable cause:
Stall at low altitude and low speed after being caught by strong winds.

Crash of a Potez 25 in Vélizy-Villacoublay

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1939 at 1415 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1752
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vélizy-Villacoublay - Vélizy-Villacoublay
MSN:
1752
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Vélizy-Villacoublay Airport for a local observation training exercice. Just after liftoff, the engine lost power. The pilot elected to gain speed and nosed down when the airplane hit the ground, bounced several times and came to rest upside down. Both crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt Maxime Bouchon, pilot,
Eoa Michel Flamand, observer.
Probable cause:
Loss of engine power after liftoff.

Crash of a Potez 25 in Vélizy-Villacoublay: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1939 at 1445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1816
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Vélizy-Villacoublay - Vélizy-Villacoublay
MSN:
1816
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Vélizy-Villacoublay Airport for a local observation training exercice. While in initial climb, at a height of about 100 metres, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed onto a house located one km past the runway end. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Jean-Jacques Trébucien, pilot,
Eor Paul Mathieu, observer.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial climb after the observer's parachute open accidentally and deployed via the observation hatch.

Crash of a Caudron C.635M Simoun in Jouy-en-Josas: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1939 at 1415 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
401
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Villacoublay – La Rochelle
MSN:
8492.401
YOM:
1938
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot took off from Vélizy-Villacoublay Airport almost simultaneously with a French Air Force Lioré 451. While in initial climb, the Simoun that was positioned to the left of the Lioré, collided the Lioré with its right wing. Out of control, the Simoun entered a dive and crashed on a farm adjacent to the Montcel Castle in Jouy-en-Josas. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew:
Adj/C Georges Marcillac, pilot.

Ground accident of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley III in Buc

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1939 at 0645 LT
Operator:
Registration:
K8961
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Driffield – Buc – Essen
MSN:
1414
YOM:
1938
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Buc Airport, the crew vacated the runway to reach his parking place when the aircraft collided with a parked Dewoitine. All five crew men evacuated safely while both aircraft were damaged beyond repair. The visibility was poor due to foggy conditions. The crew was from 77th Squadron.

Crash of a Caudron C.289/9 Phalène in Buc: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
F-AMSN
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6834.5
YOM:
1933
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the pilot elected to land at Buc Aerodrome at night while the airfield was unlit. The airplane crashed upon landing and was destroyed. A passenger was injured and three other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.

Crash of a CAMS 55-1 off Sartrouville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sartrouville - Sartrouville
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The prototype was engaged in a test flight. Upon landing on the Seine off Sartrouville, the seaplane overturned and came to rest. The test pilot Pierre Brunel was killed.

Crash of a Breguet 390T in Voisins-le-Bretonneux: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1931 at 0700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-ANEH
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Toussus-le-Noble - Toussus-le-Noble
MSN:
01
YOM:
1931
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
3500
Circumstances:
The pilot Louis Bucquet, test pilot by Breguet Industries, was involved in a test flight on this new three engine prototype. After departing Toussus-le-Noble Airport, the pilot completed some manoeuvres over the region when one of the propeller blade detached and impacted the fuselage. The engine vibrated dangerously while the control of the aircraft became hazardous. The pilot realized it was not possible to fly back to the airport so he decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The aircraft crashed in an open field and was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. The pilot was killed as the parachute straps were not correctly secured.
Probable cause:
Propeller blade failure in flight.