Country
code

Ain

Crash of a Max Holste M.H. 1521M Broussard in Ambérieu-en-Bugey: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1980 at 1500 LT
Operator:
Registration:
184/F-SDMH
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
236
YOM:
1959
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Ambérieu-en-Bugey Airfield, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Bernard Germain, pilot.
Passengers:
AdjC Jean-Claude Canet,
Maj André Duquesnoy,
Maj Henri Sothier,
AdjC Joseph Buffet,
AdjC Bernard Rovoyard.

Crash of a Vickers 708 Viscount in Tramoyes: 16 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1963 at 1419 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-BGNV
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lille – Lyon – Nice
MSN:
039
YOM:
1954
Flight number:
IT2611
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Captain / Total flying hours:
7400
Captain / Total hours on type:
1125.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5795
Copilot / Total hours on type:
462
Aircraft flight hours:
12732
Circumstances:
Flight IT 2611 was a scheduled domestic flight from Lille to Nice with an intermediate stop at Lyon. It took off from Lille at 1151 hours GMT, on an IFR flight plan. Estimated flying time between Lille and Lyon was 1 hour 21 min., cruising at flight level 150. Until 1300 hours, when it began its descent, the flight had been normal; at 1309:50, it reported to Marseilles Control that it was above Tramoyes at flight level 40, and was cleared to Lyon Approach, which was contacted at approximately 1310Z. The flight was then in position for a direct approach to runway 17. At this point Lyon Control having a Caravelle ready to take off asked the aircraft to hold momentarily over Tramoyes at flight level 30. After having first agreed, the flight reported that it was in a severe storm and requested permission to descend below flight level 25, at 1313 hours. Lyon then cleared the flight for a straight-in approach to runway 17. This was acknowledged by the aircraft, Subsequent calls from Lyon Control were not replied. The flight was seen by witnesses in the heart of a storm flying very low in an easterly direction around 1320 hours. At 1326 the aircraft was not visible on Satolas Control radar. It was subsequently found that the aircraft had hit trees, the roof of a farmhouse and a telephone pole before crashing into a field, 15 km from Lyon/Bron airport, at an altitude of 300 m (100 metres higher than the airport) at approximately 1319 hours. Four occupants, among them a crew member, were seriously injured while 12 other occupants were killed. Few hours later, three of the survivors died from their injuries and a little girl was the only survivor. In the farmhouse, a boy was seriously injured while a second one was killed.
Crew:
Georges Valencia, pilot,
Guy Cleret-Langavant, copilot,
Christiane Souleil, stewardess,
Liliane Perois, stewardess.
Probable cause:
The Board considered:
- that the aircraft would probably have landed safely if it had been able to carry through the approach it had initiated;
- that the accident resulted from the exceptionally bad weather conditions in the area where the aircraft was holding at the request of Lyon Approach.
The Board did not rule out the possibility of a flash of lightning dazzling the crew and causing temporary blindness or appreciably incapacitating both crew members.
Final Report:

Crash of a Siebel Si-204 in Bény: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1946 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
27
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Villacoublay – Marseille
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was performing a flight from Vélizy-Villacoublay to Marseille with three passengers and a pilot. En route, the crew encountered poor weather with severe icing conditions. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located in Les Moulins des Ponts, near Bény, some 18 km north of Bourg-en-Bresse. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Crew:
Maryse Hilsz, famous French aviation pilot and pioneer.
Passengers:
Lt Paul Rousset,
Lt Paul Bétou,
Lt Georges Merlin.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the flight controls were blocked due to severe icing conditions.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK in Villieu-Loyes-Mollon

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
42-93159
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
13040
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with fog and lost his orientation. Later, both engines failed due to fuel exhaustion and the captain decided to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a North American B-25C-15 Mitchell in Coligny: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1944 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-32428
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dole – Ambérieu-en-Bugey
MSN:
93-12536
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was perform a short flight from Dole to Ambérieu-en-Bugey Airfield, on behalf of the 316th Squadron. While cruising in low visibility due to foggy conditions, the aircraft hit a hill near the locality of Valresson. The aircraft was destroyed and all six crew members were killed.

Crash of a North American B-25D Mitchell in Leyrieu: 15 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1944 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-87440
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Salon-de-Provence - Loyettes
MSN:
100-23433
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Salon-de-Provence to the makeshift airfield of Loyettes, Ain. On approach, the aircraft hit a hill and crashed near Leyrieu, killing all 15 occupants.
Crew (27th Fighter Group):
Cpt Glenn T. Maltby Jr., pilot,
Cpt Thomas F. Gillmore, mechanic,
S/Sgt Carl L. Williams Jr.,
Cpl Peter Roberts,
Cpt Vernon J. Herbert,
Cpl Stuart E. Mather,
Cpl Lawrence K. Weckel,
1st Lt Peter L. Whelan,
1st Lt Frank W. Sobierajski,
T/Sgt James T. Lee,
S/Sgt John W. Utkewitch Jr.,
Cpl Kurt D. Meyer,
Harry Wilner,
Arthur H. Towler, employee of Republic Aviation,
Harry J. Conley, technician by Pratt & Whitney Canada.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-55-CF Liberator in Port

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1944 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
44-10492
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1044
YOM:
1943
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While engaged in a bombing mission over Saarbrücken, the aircraft was attacked by enemy fire. The crew was able to leave Germany and flew to France. Eventually, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing and the aircraft crash landed in Port, near Nantua. While all ten occupants were unhurt and evaded, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling III in Saint-Jean-le-Vieux: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1944 at 0005 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EF502
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lakenheath - Lakenheath
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a supply mission to the French Resistance and left RAF Lakenheath at 2112LT on April 10. While cruising by night over the French department of Ain, the aircraft was shot down by Flak and crashed on the roof of a farm. Two crew were able to leave the scene by themselves while all five other occupants were killed.
Crew (149th Squadron):
P/O D. Bray, pilot, †
P/O D. L. Northover, navigator, †
Sgt G. Cameron, bombardier, †
F/Sgt J. Turner, radio, †
Sgt A. E. Bristow, engineer, †
Sgt D. E. Cadge, air gunner,
F/Sgt N. C. H. Pilgrim, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Flak.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling III in Hauteville-Lompnes: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EJ110
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Crew was completing a supply mission to the French Resistance. While overflying Ain in snow falls, aircraft went out of control and crashed in Bois de Valorse, near Hauteville-Lompnes. All 7 crew of the 196th Squadron were killed.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling III in Ambérieu-en-Bugey: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 17, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EH884
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Downham Market - Downham Market
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Downham Market at 2019LT on August 16 on a bombing mission to Torino, Italy. While flying over the east part of France at an altitude of 14,000 feet, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in a field in Saint German en Bugey. A crew member was taken PoW, another evaded while five others were killed.
Crew (218th Squadron):
W/O S. F. Chudzik, †
Sgt D. Deans, †
Sgt C. E. Taylor, †
Sgt D. P. J. Rawlings, †
Sgt J. D. Bates, †
Sgt J. L. Paterson,
Sgt W. L. McKinnon.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.