Air Nautic

Vickers Viking

During the takeoff roll, control was lost. The airplane veered off runway and came to rest. All 10 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was written off.

Boeing 307 Stratoliner

The Boeing SA.307 Stratoliner F-BELZ arrived at Bastia (BIA), France from Nice (NCE) at 05:25 UTC. The plane took off again for the return flight via Ajaccio (AJA), Corsica at 11:49 and was cleared for a cruising altitude of FL120, estimating Ajaccio at 12:20 UTC. Last radio contact with the flight was at 12:09 when the flight crew replied to the weather and active runway information from Ajaccio Approach. At 12:12 the flight flew into a sheer rock face of Monte Renoso which is located 45 km from the Ajaccio VOR on the 048 radial. Impact was at an altitude of 2,285 m (7,500 feet) and about 50 m (165 feet) below the summit. The aircraft rebounded after impact and fell about 100 m down the slope of the mountain. All 25 occupants were killed, among them members of the Bastia Basketball team who were flying to Nice for the National Championship. The aircraft was totally destroyed. Crew: Roger Mercier, pilot, Fernand Delime, copilot, Antoine Blois, mechanic.

Vickers Viking

While approaching the south coast of Corsica, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off the village of Tralicetu. The aircraft sank and was lost while both pilots were able to swim to the beach.