Lyon – Clermont-Ferrand – Bordeaux

On October 27, 1972 at 07:18 PM, Lyon – Clermont-Ferrand – Bordeaux experienced a crash involving Vickers Viscount, operated by Air Inter, with the event recorded near Noirétable Loire.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.

68 people were known to be on board, 60 fatalities were recorded, 8 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 88.2%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 5, passengers on board: 63, passenger fatalities: 55, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. During a short flight from Lyon to Clermont-Ferrand by night, the crew was briefed about poor weather conditions en route and at destination with storm activity, turbulences, heavy rain falls, icing conditions and low ceiling. The crew was cleared to start an ILS approach to Clermont-Ferrand and received the permission to descend to 3,600 feet. In clouds, the four engine airplane struck trees then crashed inverted on the Pic du Picot (1,100 meters high) located in the Forez Mountain Range, near Noirétable. The wreckage was localized seven hours later in the Faye forest. Eight passengers were evacuated while 60 other occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration F-BMCH, MSN 50, year of manufacture 1955.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 45.8171°, 3.7661°.