Paris – Blantyre – Antananarivo

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.

Flight / Schedule

Paris – Blantyre – Antananarivo

Registration

476560/F-RAST

MSN

16144/32892

Year of Manufacture

1945

Date

October 19, 1958 at 08:30 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight 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

Flight Type

Military

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Mountains

Region / Country

Africa • Malawi

Aircraft Details

Registration

476560/F-RAST

MSN

16144/32892

Year of Manufacture

1945

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