French Air Force - Armée de l'Air

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

The Twin Otter departed Al-Gorah on a flight to Sainte-Catherine, carrying 8 passengers (among them six membres of the French Air Force) and one Canadian pilot. En route, he contacted ATC and reported technical problems. While attempting an emergency landing, the aircraft collided with a Jordan truck carrying glass and crashed, bursting into flames. Both truck drivers were slightly injured while the aircraft was destroyed and all 9 occupants were killed. The flight was operated by the French Air Force on behalf of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) based in the Sinai area. French Air Force members killed: Cptn Laurence Briançon-Forest, Lt Guillaume Pike, SgtC Yann Poilly, SgtC Laurent Pottier, SgtC Hervé Bouffenie, Sgt Julien Flégo.

Transall C-160

The aircraft was engaged in a local post maintenance test flight at Fort-de-France-Le Lamentin Airport, carrying five technicians and three crew members on behalf of the Escadron de Transport Outremer 58. After engine startup, the crew started to taxi when a fire erupted. The aircraft was stopped on the ramp and all eight occupants escaped uninjured. Within three minutes, fire bombers were on site and extinguished the fire. Nevertheless, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Casa-Nurtanio CN-235 (IPTN)

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.

Transall C-160

The crew was completing a local training at Orléans-Bricy AFB. Following several circuits, the crew was attempting a new approach by night when the aircraft struck power cables, lost height and crashed in a field located near Chevilly, few km from the runway threshold. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed. It was reported that the crew was forced to shut an engine down few seconds prior to the accident while flying in icing conditions. Despite the aircraft was established on the ILS, the crew was descending at an insufficient altitude. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited.

Transall C-160

Few minutes after takeoff from Calvi-Sainte Catherine Airport, en route to Solenzara Airbase, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a very steep mountain slope located near Occhiatana, about 12 km from Calvi. the wreckage was found at an altitude of 1,300 metres near the Bocca di Battaglia Plateau. All six crew members were evacuated, among them two were injured.

Dassault Falcon 20

The crew departed Luxeuil-Saint Sauveur AFB on a training flight to Vélizy-Villacoublay AFB on behalf of the 'Système de Navigation d’Attaque' (SNA). On approach, both engines lost power and the crew elected to divert to Toussus-le-Noble Airport for an emergency landing. The captain eventually attempted to land on a sports field when the aircraft struck a concrete wall and crashed, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found in Élancourt, about 17 km west of Vélizy-Villacoublay AFB. The aircraft christened 'Étoile du Berger' was destroyed and all four crew members were killed. Crew: Cdt Jean-Luc Luciani, Cpt Christian Huth, Cpt Pierre Schmitt, Lt Philippe Hirson.

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Crashed in unknown circumstances while engaged in a mission on behalf of the Multinational Force Observers (MFO) based in Al Gora. There were no casualties.

Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard

The crew departed Solenzara AFB on a training mission. The single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances by the Asinao Pass, about 16 km southwest of the Solenzara Airbase. All three occupants were killed.

Transall C-160

The aircraft departed Toulouse-Francazal on a training flight with a second C-160 of the French Air Force registered F156. En route, while completing a combined exercice, both aircraft collided in unknown circumstances and crashed in an open field located in Carbes, about 8 km northwest of Castres, Tarn. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 13 crew members were killed. Crew: Lt Didier Galia, Lt Jacky Sire, Lt Joël Guyot, Cdt Michel Poincelet, Cdt Édouard Florisiak, Cpt Gérard Julien, Maj Max Borie, Maj Claude Vochelet, AdjC André Hupliez, AdjC André Ehrmann, AdjC Gérard Natton, Adj Bruno Billard, SgtC Christian Thibault.

Transall C-160

The aircraft departed Toulouse-Francazal on a training flight with a second C-160 of the French Air Force registered F209. En route, while completing a combined exercice, both aircraft collided in unknown circumstances and crashed in an open field located in Carbes, about 8 km northwest of Castres, Tarn. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 13 crew members were killed. Crew: Lt Didier Galia, Lt Jacky Sire, Lt Joël Guyot, Cdt Michel Poincelet, Cdt Édouard Florisiak, Cpt Gérard Julien, Maj Max Borie, Maj Claude Vochelet, AdjC André Hupliez, AdjC André Ehrmann, AdjC Gérard Natton, Adj Bruno Billard, SgtC Christian Thibault.