Country
code

Ariège

Crash of a Casa-Nurtanio CN-235M-200 on Pic du Pioulou: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 2003 at 1035 LT
Operator:
Registration:
F-RAIA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Toulouse - Toulouse
MSN:
C-043
YOM:
1990
Flight number:
COTAM 1492
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
3053
Captain / Total hours on type:
2683.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1319
Copilot / Total hours on type:
924
Aircraft flight hours:
4925
Circumstances:
Based at Creil AFB (BA110), the aircraft was dispatched at Toulouse-Francazal AFB on December 15 for a period of three days to conduct local missions with paratroopers. Undel callsign Cotam 1492, the aircraft departed Toulouse-Francazal Airport at 0952LT with 12 paratroopers and four crew members on board on behalf of the Escadron de Transport 01.062 Vercors. At 1017LT, while approaching the drop zone of Tour du Crieu at an altitude of 12,000 feet, nine skydivers left the cabin. Then the captain informed ground he want to conduct a low flight over the Pyrenees mountains for a period of 10-15 minutes before returning to the base. At 1025LT, the aircraft entered the Ariege valley between Foix and Tarascon then the Vicdessos valley. Approaching Suc-et-Sentenac at 1034LT, the aircraft turn to the right and started to climb to pass over the Pic du Pioulou. The climb was started at an altitude of 3,700 feet (600 feet above ground) with a rate of climb of 3,000 feet per minute and a speed of 170 knots. Due pass the Pic du Pioulou (7,200 feet high), the aircraft should climb at least 3,500 feet on a distance of 4,500 metres with an average slope of 23,4% which is over the aircraft capabilities. While climbing with a speed of 100 knots, the stick shaker activated and the stall warning sounded. The speed continued to drop and the aircraft nosed up, reaching an angle of attack of 55°. At a speed of 55 knots, the aircraft stalled, rolled to the left and crashed on the slope of the Pic du Pioulou at an altitude of 1,830 metres. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all seven occupants (four crew members and three paratroopers) were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Charles Edouard Bardinet,
Asp Mallory Bernard,
Adj David Roux,
Adj/C Serge Kaczala,
Cap/C Mickael Larivière,
Cap/C Jérôme Garcia,
Cpt Aude Tessier.
Probable cause:
The accident, which occurred in a delicate aeronautical environment (mountain flying) sees its causes primarily related to the human factor. It occurred during the execution of an unscheduled and unprepared flight phase, by decision of the captain during the flight. Meanwhile, several factors point to an improvable rigor in actions performed by some crew members of this unit. A decision to change the mission in flight combines several errors that led to the accident:
- Overconfidence of the crew, unaccustomed to mountain flying, which engaged in a topography of which they underestimated the difficulty, the insidiously, because gradually, increasing slope,
- A lack of decision in the cockpit that originated in the establishment of a "soft consensus" itself resulting from functions, qualifications and personalities of various crew members,
- Incorrect assessment of the situation and the capabilities of the aircraft with regards to the topography,
- A lack of reaction in a degraded situation.
Final Report:

Crash of a Nord 2501 Noratlas in Saverdun: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
59/F-RBHI
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Toulouse - Toulouse
MSN:
59
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training mission when he encountered icing conditions. The airplane went out of control and crashed in Saverdun, some 45 km southeast of Toulouse. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed. They were conducting a mission on behalf of the CIET 340 (Centre d’Instruction des Équipages de Transport) based at Toulouse-Francazal Airbase.
Crew:
Cpt Jacques Masniaud,
Lt Roger Galibert,
Adj Henri Delpech,
Sgt André Esposito.

Crash of a Nord 2501 Noratlas in Le Bosc: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
35
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Toulouse - Toulouse
MSN:
35
YOM:
1954
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a night training mission out from Toulouse-Francazal Airbase. While cruising at a low altitude in limited visibility, the airplane struck the slope of Jouels Peak located about three km west the village of Le Bosc. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax III near Soueix: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
MZ981
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Tarrant Rushton - Tarrant Rushton
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
236
Captain / Total hours on type:
44.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
183
Copilot / Total hours on type:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the four engine bomber hit the slope of Lampaou Peak located near Soueix. All seven crew members were killed. At the time of the accident, visibility was poor due to marginal weather conditions. While the captain had a total of 236 hours within 44 on type, the copilot totalized 183 flying hours, zero on type.
Crew (644th Squadron):
Sgt D. P. J. Thorne, pilot,
Sgt R. E. Pugh, copilot,
Sgt K. Smith, navigator,
Sgt W. B. Ness, radio operator,
Sgt R. T. Furley, flight engineer,
Sgt H. Stratford, bomber,
Sgt W. W. Quinn, air gunner.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew lost his orientation in low visibility.