Paris – Blantyre – Antananarivo
Flight / Schedule
Paris – Blantyre – Antananarivo
Aircraft
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)Registration
476560/F-RAST
MSN
16144/32892
Year of Manufacture
1945
Operator
French Air Force - Armée de l'AirDate
October 19, 1958 at 08:30 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Blantyre Southern Region
Region
Africa • Malawi
Coordinates
-15.8041°, 35.0395°
Narrative Report
On October 19, 1958 at 08:30 AM, Paris – Blantyre – Antananarivo experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by French Air Force - Armée de l'Air, with the event recorded near Blantyre Southern Region.
The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a mountains crash site.
6 people were known to be on board, 6 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 6, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
Few minutes after takeoff from from Blantyre-Chileka Airport, while climbing, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Chiradzulu located about 21 km east of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all six crew members were killed. Crew: Cpt Georges Mercier, Lt Jacques Laguibe, Adj Bernard Moreau, Adj Louis Coudray, Adj Georges Babylé, M/Sgt Georges Moreau.
Aircraft reference details include registration 476560/F-RAST, MSN 16144/32892, year of manufacture 1945.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -15.8041°, 35.0395°.
Fatalities
Total
6
Crew
6
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
Few minutes after takeoff from from Blantyre-Chileka Airport, while climbing, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Chiradzulu located about 21 km east of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all six crew members were killed. Crew: Cpt Georges Mercier, Lt Jacques Laguibe, Adj Bernard Moreau, Adj Louis Coudray, Adj Georges Babylé, M/Sgt Georges Moreau.
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
6
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 6
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Paris – Blantyre – Antananarivo
Operator
French Air Force - Armée de l'AirFlight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Africa • Malawi
Aircraft Details
Aircraft
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)Registration
476560/F-RAST
MSN
16144/32892
Year of Manufacture
1945
Similar Plane Crashes
French Air Force - Armée de l'Air
Breguet 14
The aircraft crashed iupon landing somewhere in France. Pilot Charles C. Bassett survived.
French Air Force - Armée de l'Air
De Havilland DH.4
The DH.4 collided with a Salmson aircraft over Latrecey-Ormoy-sur-Aube and crashed, killing the pilot Raymond B. Messer.
French Air Force - Armée de l'Air
Salmson 2.A2
The crew was performing a training flight on behalf of the 31st Aviation Observation Regiment. The aAccident occurred in unknown circumstances. While Lieutenant James was seriously injured, Lieutenant Serrant was killed.
French Air Force - Armée de l'Air
Farman F.60 Goliath
The crew was performing a night training flight on behalf of the 3rd Squadron of the 22nd regiment based in Chartres. While flying in the region of Bonneval, some 20 km south of Chartres, the aircraft caught fire. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. From a height of 50 meters, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. All five occupants were killed. Crew: Lt Jules Gindre, pilot, Sgt Pierre Pacaud, navigator, Sgt Roger Duchatelle, navigator, Sgt Raymond Rigault, mechanic, Pvt Jean Frémont, radio.
French Air Force - Armée de l'Air
Farman F.60 Goliath
The crew was performing a mission on behalf of the 3rd Squadron of the 22nd Regiment based in Chartres. In flight, the pilot encountered technical problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing in an open field located in Mâle, some 8 km southwest of Nogent-le-Rotrou, Orne. While all five crew were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
French Air Force - Armée de l'Air
Farman F.63bis Goliath
En route from Chartres to Saint-Inglevert, the crew encountered foggy conditions. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in an open field when the aircraft impacted ground, crashed and came to rest upside down. Four crew members evacuated safely while the pilot, Lt Gaymard, was killed.
