Algiers – Vichy

On November 12, 1941 at 01:03 PM, Algiers – Vichy experienced a crash involving Potez 662, operated by French Government, with the event recorded near Valleraugue Gard.

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

7 people were known to be on board, 7 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 3, passenger fatalities: 3, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is weather. The four engine aircraft was en route from Algiers to Vichy with a crew of four and three passengers on board. At 1247LT, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the crew informed ATC he wanted to divert to Marseille due to icing conditions. Sixteen minutes later, the aircraft lost altitude, hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located on the south slope of Mt Aigoual, near the Minier Pass, north of Villeraugue. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and post impact fire. All seven occupants were killed, among them the French General Charles Huntziger, Chief of Ground Forces. Unique example built in 1937, the aircraft was christened 'Plus est en nous'. Crew: Jean Lefèvre, pilot. Passengers: General Charles Huntziger, Jean Labusquière, Chief of Staff, Captain de Royère.

Aircraft reference details include registration F-ARAY, MSN 01, year of manufacture 1937.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 44.0845°, 3.6423°.