Caudron C.630 Simoun

French Air Force - Armée de l'Air

Poor weather conditions were encountered en route, forcing the crew to attempt a wheels up landing in a snowy field. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Air Bleu

Crew completed the approach in foggy conditions. Aircraft landed hard, went out of control and came to rest upside down. All three occupants were injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Private French

The crew was taking part to an air race from Antananarivo to Paris to establish a new record. The single engine aircraft left Antananarivo on June 25 at 1900LT. While flying by night over Zanzibar, the aircraft went out of control and crashed on the south coast of the island. Both crewmen were killed. It appears an explosion occurred before the aircraft crashed. Crew: Philippe Tréchot, pilot and owner, M. Monteil, pilot.

Private French

The Caudron C.630 Simoun with s/n 7042 was ordered in July 1935, built and delivered to its owner Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in September 1935. After several trips in Africa, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry decided at the end of December to fly from Paris to Saigon to establish a new record. After 19 hours and 38 minutes of flight, while cruising by night over the Libyan desert, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls. The crew decided first to climb to 2,500 meters but cumulus were still there so he reduced his altitude to 1,000 meters then 400 meters and lower until the aircraft struck a sandy ground and crashed. Both occupants were uninjured but walked away for four days without water or any food before being rescued. The aircraft was written off.

Air Bleu

On final approach to Parçay-Meslay Airport in Tours, the single engine aircraft was too low and hit a tree with its right wing. It stalled and crashed in a garden located short of runway. The pilot was killed. Crew: Georges Tixier, pilot, Victor Beaufol, telegraphist.