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.

Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard

Crashed in unknown circumstances. Crew fate unknown.

Morane-Saulnier M.S.760 Paris

The airplane was completing a flight from Vélizy-Villacoublay to Biarritz when it crashed upon landing in unclear circumstances. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard

Crashed in unknown circumstances. Crew fate unknown.

Nord 2501 Noratlas

The aircraft departed Djibouti City on a local paratroopers training mission. While flying by night, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Garbi (1,700 meters high) located northwest of Assal Lake. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and all 36 occupants were killed, among them seven officers, five non-commissioned officers, one Navy officer, 23 Corporals and legionaries. Crew: Cmd Dalmasso, Cmd Couillaud, Cpt Taddéï, Cpt Demange.

Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard

Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant's fate unknown.

Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard

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.

Nord 2501 Noratlas

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Royan. There were no casualties.

Nord 2501 Noratlas

At 1000LT on November 24, the airplane departed Hyères-Le Palyvestre NAS near Toulon on a flight to Mont-de-Marsan Airbase, carrying 28 passengers and a crew of four. The passengers were respectively 23 Marines from the Naval School of Saint-Mandrier, four officers and the Director of the Naval School's house. All four crew members were attached to the Groupe 3/64 Bigorre at Évreux AFB. All of them were invited at Mont-de-Marsan Airbase to assist to the final of a radiophonic tournament they lost on semi-final. At 0100LT on November 25, the airplane departed Mont-de-Marsan Airfield bound to the east. En route, the crew encountered very bad weather conditions with fog and rain falls, reducing the visibility to zero. In such conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane passed over the hamlet of La Sicarderie at a height of 150 meters. Less than 30 seconds later, the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area located in the Somail Mountain Range, about 40 km northwest of Béziers. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 32 occupants were killed. Crew (Groupe 3/64 Bigorre from Évreux AFB): Cpt Philippe Le Goff, Sgt/C Robert Sonier, Sgt/C Jean-Claude Bezanger, Sgt/C Serge Luckel. Passengers (accompanist officers): Cpt Raymond Faucher, Mrs Elisabeth Boissat, Director of the GEM House, Ens/V Francis Coinsin, Asp Louis Rimbaud, M/Pr Luc Kuntz. Passengers (Marines members of the Bagad du Groupe d’Écoles de Mécaniciens (GEM) de Saint-Mandrier): M/Mec Pierre Nadal, 2nd M/Mec Joël Quentel, 2nd M/Mec Alain Bouydron, QM/Mec Philippe Janin, QM/Mec Philippe Orliac, QM/Mec Louis Tanguy, QM/Mec Alain Ducasse, M/Mec Patrick Mira, M/Mec François Chotard, M/Mec Didier Le Goff, M/Mec Jean-Marie Rambaud, M/Mec Christian Dreau, M/Mec Claude Lecoustaouec, M/Mec Joël Jaffres, M/Mec Guy Le Doussal, M/Eq Jean-Marc Mule, Mat Ben Ah-Mi, App/Mec Alain Montas, App/Mec Pascal Le Gall, App/Mec Dominique Le Goff, APP/Mec Eric Descarcin, App/Mec Didier Terrec, App/Mec Alain Scouarnec.

Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard

The single engine airplane was engaged in a local skydiving mission, carrying a crew of two (one pilot and one mechanic) and four skydivers on behalf of the Aviation Légère de l'Armée de Terre (ALAT). Just after takeoff, while climbing, black smoke was coming out from the engine that lost power. The pilot attempted an emergency landing on a road but due to traffic, he tried to land in an open field when the airplane struck a bank and crashed in flames. All six occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed. Six days later, the mechanic died from his injuries.

Nord 2501 Noratlas

While in a liaison flight on behalf of 01/062 Vercors Squadron, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of Monte San Petru (1,400 meters high) located three km southeast of Petreto-Bicchisano, Corsica. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed. Crew: Cdt Yvon Mussetta, Cpt Jean Bombes de Villiers, Adj Albert Rougies, Sgt Patrick Steffen.

Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard

Crashed upon landing at N'Djamena Airport. All occupants were injured.

Dassault M.D.315 Flamant

The twin engine airplane was performing a liaison flight from Dijon-Longvic AFB to Romilly-sur-Seine on behalf of the 2nd Squadron. Upon arrival, the airplane landed on its belly, slid for dozen meters and came to rest. All five occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft registered 141 (2-HK) was damaged beyond repair.

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker

The four engine airplane departed Hao Island Airport runway 12 at 0500LT for a weather reports mission of seven hours and 40 minutes. During initial climb, both right engines n°3 & 4 lost power simultaneously. The pilot-in-command was able to complete a low pass over the airport before the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea few hundred meters offshore. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed. Crew: Cdt Dugué, pilot, Lt Frugier, copilot, Cpt Parage, navigator, Adj Hecq, refueling operator. Passengers: - Adj Langlais, weather specialist, 1st Mst Saucillon, weather specialist.

Nord 2501 Noratlas

The crew departed Reims-Champagne AFB (BA112) in the morning on a local training flight. While flying at a relative low altitude, control was lost and the airplane crashed in an open field located in Damery, northwest of Épernay. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all five crew members were killed. Crew: Cpt Michel Barril, Adj André Picquot, Adj Jean-Claude Mathey, Sgt Lucien Lorber, Sgt Pierre Marceau.

Nord 2501 Noratlas

The aircraft departed Pau-Uzein Airport on a local training flight with nine crew members and 25 paratroopers, on behalf of the Escadron de Transport 2/63 Bigorre. Few minutes after takeoff, the captain informed ground about an engine fire and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. On final approach, the airplane nosed down then crashed in a huge explosion few km short of runway. Two passengers were injured while 32 other occupants were killed. Crew: Cpt Mallet, Cpt Remy, Adj Abdi, Adj Sion, Mdlc Carlu, Mdlc Gruselle, Sgt Piccerelle, Sgt Tondeur, Mdl Perron. Passengers: S/Lt Berthe, S/Lt Boju, S/Lt Cartal, S/Lt Coullerez, S/Lt Delarche, S/Lt Del Toso, S/Lt Dhome, S/Lt Ducatillon, S/Lt Erba, S/Lt Flori, S/Lt Guillamet, S/Lt Kerleguer, S/Lt Labriet, S/Lt Lanterme, S/Lt Lafitte, S/Lt Megevand, S/Lt Peters, S/Lt Pina, S/Lt Py, S/Lt Rousseau, S/Lt Sensfelder, S/Lt Tachet, S/Lt Zangarelli.

Cessna 411

The twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Ocean few hundred yards off shore while flying by night. All three occupants were killed. The mission was conducted on behalf of the Groupe aérien mixte (GAM). Crew: Lt Col Desplas, Cdt Lacrouts, Lt Col Lalanne.

Nord 262

The airplane departed Vélizy-Villacoublay Air Base on a special flight to Orange AFB, carrying six officers, seven engineers of the CEA - Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique (Central commission for nuclear energy) and a crew of eight who were scheduled to conduct an inspection of the nuclear center of Pierrelatte. The pilot was cleared by Marseille ATC to descent to 8,000 feet until Montélimar then to 5,000 feet to Orange. For unknown reason, the crew started the descent prematurely and in marginal weather conditions, the airplane stuck the slope of Mt Suc de Pradou (1,342 meters high) located about 3 km southeast of Mézilhac. The wreckage was found about 200 meters below the summit and all 21 occupants have been killed. Crew: Lt Pierre Chaintreau, Adj/C Jean-Michel Reig, Adj/C Jacques Deville, Adj Alain Gaudy, Sgt/C Claude Touzeau, Sgt/C Jean-Pierre Boutin, Off Alain Giblan, Sdt Bertrand Courbier. Passengers: Amiral Robert Landrin, Gen Édouard Billion, Gen Jean-Marc Pineau, Col Charles Birckel, Col Alain Rolland de Chambaudoin d’Erceville, Cpt André Bouteiller, Jean Gaume, engineer, Paul Johann, engineer, Jean Labussière, engineer, Hubert Lefèbvre de Laboulaye, engineer, Jacques Mabile, engineer, François Ronteix, engineer, Georges Tirole, engineer.

Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard

Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant's fate remains unknown.

Dassault M.D.315 Flamant

Two Dassault M.D.311 Flamant of the French Air Force deparated Toulouse-Francazal Airbase on a combined exercise on behalf of the Groupement École 316. Both aircraft were carrying four crew members. Over the region of Aubiet, both airplane collided in unclear conditions and crashed in an open field, killing all eight crew members. Crew: Cpt Artigue, Lt Durrieu, Lt Soubeirat, Lt Fosse, Adj Beaufrère, Adj Truche, Cpl Mauge, Cpl Vogel.

Dassault M.D.315 Flamant

Two Dassault M.D.311 Flamant of the French Air Force deparated Toulouse-Francazal Airbase on a combined exercise on behalf of the Groupement École 316. Both aircraft were carrying four crew members. Over the region of Aubiet, both airplane collided in unclear conditions and crashed in an open field, killing all eight crew members. Crew: Cpt Artigue, Lt Durrieu, Lt Soubeirat, Lt Fosse, Adj Beaufrère, Adj Truche, Cpl Mauge, Cpl Vogel.

Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard

Crashed in unknown circumstances while descending to Pau-Uzein Airport. All seven occupants were killed.

Douglas DC-6

Crashed in unknown circumstances. No casualties.

Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard

In unknown circumstances, the Broussard registered 234/F-TESR collided in flight with a second French Army Broussard registered 185/F-TESS. While the second Broussard was able to land, the first crashed and was destroyed. The crew fate remains unknown.

Transall C-160

A French Air Force C-160 Transall crashed upon landing at Flores Airport in March 1969 and was stored. Decision was taken by the French Army to proceed to repairs at Flores and a second Transall was dispatched on May 23. On touchdown, the C-160 Transall registered 61-MI (F-14) went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. All five crew members were able to evacuate the cabin before the aircraft would be destroyed by fire. The first Transall (F-12) was eventually repaired in July and returned into service.

Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard

While completing a local training flight at Chenevières-Saint-Clément AFB, the single engine aircraft crashed in the Mondon forest located north of the airbase. The crew fate remains unknown.

Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard

The single engine airplane departed Salon-de-Provence Airbase on a training mission over the Alps with a pilot and five skydivers on board. While cruising at an altitude of 1,300 meters, the airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in flames near Moissière Pass. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed. Crew: Cpt Jean Salette. Passengers: S/Sgt Jean Bousquet, Cpt Yves Charpentier, Cpt Bernard Pergeline, Cpt Bernard Billiet, Cpt Max Bonnaud.

Morane-Saulnier M.S.760 Paris

The crew was completing a local training mission at Vélizy-Villacoublay Airbase when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Loges-en-Josas, some 4 km west of the airfield. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Dassault M.D.315 Flamant

Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all five occupants.

Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard

En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and heavy rain falls when the single engine aircraft crashed in a wooded area located on the slope of Mt Hornisgrinde (1,164 meters high), near Seebach. All five occupants were killed. Gen Jacques Navelet, Lt Col Bertrand Chaudessolle, Chef d’escadron Antoine Berlandier, Adj Francis Petit, Mlc Michel Jacquet.

Nord 2501 Noratlas

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.

Dassault M.D.315 Flamant

En route from Aix-en-Provence to Toulouse, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near Monze. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed. They were attached to the Groupement École 316 based at Toulouse-Francazal Airbase. Crew: Cpt Patrice Bourguignat, Lt Aimé Barberis, Lt Serge Guilloteau, Sgt Jean Celle.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

On final approach to Obock Airstrip, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances short of runway threshold. All 5 crew members and 25 passengers were killed. The airplane was carrying members of a Handball team flying on behalf of the CIET 340, Centre d’Instruction des Équipages de Transport.

Nord 2501 Noratlas

Crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located near Blond while completing a training flight on behalf of the Groupe de transport 2/63 Bigorre. All five crew members were killed. Crew: Lt Rigordel, Adj Touron, Adj Juhel, Adj Arenas, Sgt Lange.

Morane-Saulnier M.S.760 Paris

Shortly after takeoff from Mont-de-Marsan AFB (BA 118), the twin engine aircraft crashed and burst into flames. All three crew members were killed. Crew: Col Jacques Couilleau, Sgt Michel Blanc, Sgt Bernard Ruy.

Nord 2501 Noratlas

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.

Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard

While on a flight from Colmar, the crew encountered engine difficulties and the pilot attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field located near Reims and came to rest. There were no casualties. It is believed the engine failure was caused by icing.

Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard

Crash landed at Luxeuil-Saint Sauveur AFB. There were no casualties.

Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard

A loss of oil pressure in flight forced the pilot to attempt an emergency landing in a field located in Montainville. There were no injuries but the aircraft was written off.

Douglas A-26 Invader

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.

Douglas A-26 Invader

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.