Country
code

Gironde

Crash of a Beechcraft C90 King Air in Sainte-Radegonde

Date & Time: Mar 29, 2013 at 1250 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N90KH
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bordeaux – Bergerac
MSN:
LJ-542
YOM:
1971
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2640
Captain / Total hours on type:
300.00
Circumstances:
The pilot and two passengers departed Sarlat-Domme Airport for a training mission over the region of Bordeaux. A precision approach was completed at Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport followed by a go-around procedure. The IFR flight plan was closed and the pilot continued under VFR mode to Bordeaux-Léognan-Saucats Aerodrome where he landed. A passenger deplaned, the engine remained running and the aircraft took off few minutes later to Bergerac where a refueling was planned. Approximately 10 minutes after takeoff, while cruising at an altitude of 2,000 feet, both engines failed. The pilot reduced his altitude, selected gear down and attempted and emergency landing in a vineyard. Upon landing, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. Both occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines in flight due to fuel exhaustion. It was determined that the pilot took off with 800 lbs of fuel on board, thinking having enough fuel for an hour and a half flight which corresponds to an autonomy with 800 liters. In such conditions, the fuel quantity was not sufficient to complete the flight and there were no required reserves. It is believed that the double engine failure was caused by the fact that the pilot mistook pounds for liters (livres - litres in French). The lack of a preflight visual check of the fuel gauges could did not allow the pilot to notice his mistake.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Libourne: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 2002 at 1815 LT
Operator:
Registration:
F-GHUY
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Libourne – Toussus-le-Noble
MSN:
421B-0417
YOM:
1973
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
1761
Copilot / Total flying hours:
552
Circumstances:
After takeoff from runway 22 at Libourne-Les Artigues-de-Lussac Airport, while initial climb, the twin engine aircraft made a first slight turn to the right then a turn to the left in a strong left bank configuration. It went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located 2 km from the runway end, bursting into flames. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was due to the loss of control of the aircraft during the initial climb phase, which may be linked to a power asymmetry between the two engines. He was not possible to determine the origin of this asymmetry, nor its effective contribution to the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402A in Arcachon: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1989
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-BRIY
Survivors:
No
MSN:
402A-0048
YOM:
1979
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching Arcachon-La Teste Airport, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances between the villages of La Teste-de-Buch and Gujan-Mestras, north of the airfield. All three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Transall C-160D in Bordeaux: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1988
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
50+80
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Stuttgart - Bordeaux
MSN:
D117
YOM:
1971
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
On approach to Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport following an uneventful flight from Stuttgart-Echterdingen Airport, one of the engine failed. The aircraft lost height, struck power cables and crashed in a wooded area located in Eysines, few km short of runway 23 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of an Embraer EMB-120RT Brasília in Bordeaux: 16 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1987 at 1510 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-GEGH
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Brussels - Bordeaux
MSN:
120-033
YOM:
1986
Flight number:
AF1919
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Captain / Total flying hours:
2394
Captain / Total hours on type:
101.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1326
Copilot / Total hours on type:
215
Aircraft flight hours:
2505
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Brussels, the crew contacted Bordeaux Approach at 15:01 and was vectored for an ILS approach to runway 23. Visibility was poor with low clouds at 100 feet and a runway visual range (RVR) of between 650 and 350 metres. Flight 1919 crossed the KERAG beacon, the initial approach fix (IAF) at an altitude of FL144, at 15:04:40. Cloud base was still around 100 feet so the crew requested to enter a holding pattern to the south of the airport. The weather conditions slightly improved during the next few minutes and Bordeaux Approach reported a cloud base at 160 feet. Flight 1919 had not reached the holding pattern yet and the pilot decided to attempt to rejoin the ILS. At 15:06:38 the flight was cleared direct to the BD beacon and to descend down to 2000 feet. At the BD beacon, the flight was cleared for final approach and instructed to contact Bordeaux Tower. The airplane had overshot the centreline and was slightly right on the glidepath. Bordeaux Tower then instructed the flight to report over the Outer Marker, which was acknowledged by the captain. After crossing the Outer Marker, the airplane was still not properly established on the ILS. The airplane descended below the glideslope with the crew hurriedly deploying flaps and landing gear. The captain did not contact Bordeaux Tower as requested. Instead he took over control of the airplane, attempting to continue the approach. Both crew members had very little time to adapt to their new roles as the airplane was descending below the glide slope. The descent continued until the aircraft struck tree tops and crashed in the Eysines forrest, about 5 km short of runway. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 16 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the direct result of poorly managed aircraft trajectory.
- The lack of vigilance with respect to altitude, by one pilot and then the other, when they were in a pilot-flying situation (PF, according to the Air Littoral Operations Manual) both when the aircraft descended out of the ILS beam through 2000 feet altitude and when it descended below 220 feet, the decision height.
- Inadequate coordination of tasks between the two pilots who formed the flight crew, neither of which had performed important tasks related to this function, such as monitoring and reporting ILS or altitude deviations, while in a nonpilot-flying situation (PNF, according to the same manual).
Final Report:

Crash of a Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard in Soulac-sur-Mer

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1984
Registration:
F-BMMO
Flight Phase:
MSN:
170
YOM:
1959
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a SNCAC NC.701 Martinet in Bordeaux: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
120
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
120
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While taking off from Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed. Two passengers were seriously injured while five other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-60-DL Invader in Bordeaux

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-35953/F-UIJA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cazaux - Cazaux
MSN:
29232
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Cazaux AFB for a combined exercise with two other Douglas A-26 Invader. The collision between the three aircraft occurred in unclear circumstances. While one crew was able to bail out before his plane crashed, both other airplanes crashed in a field, killing all seven crew members. All three airplanes were attached to the Groupe de Bombardement 2/91 Guyenne.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-60-DL Invader in Bordeaux: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-35228/F-UIJZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cazaux - Cazaux
MSN:
28507
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Cazaux AFB for a combined exercise with two other Douglas A-26 Invader. The collision between the three aircraft occurred in unclear circumstances. While one crew was able to bail out before his plane crashed, both other airplanes crashed in a field, killing all seven crew members. All three airplanes were attached to the Groupe de Bombardement 2/91 Guyenne.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-60-DL Invader in Bordeaux: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-34521/F-UIWJ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cazaux - Cazaux
MSN:
27800
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed Cazaux AFB for a combined exercise with two other Douglas A-26 Invader. The collision between the three aircraft occurred in unclear circumstances. While one crew was able to bail out before his plane crashed, both other airplanes crashed in a field, killing all seven crew members. All three airplanes were attached to the Groupe de Bombardement 2/91 Guyenne.