Incident Overview
Date: Tuesday 5 December 1944
Aircraft Type: Douglas Dakota III (DC-3)
Owner/operator: Royal Air Force – RAF
Registration Number: FL588
Location: near Mijans –
ÿ France
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 18 / Occupants: 23
Component Affected: Dakota Dakota aircraftDakota Dakota aircraft
Category: Accident
A Douglas Dakota FL588 crashed on the Pic de la Camisette, resulting in the loss of 20 glider pilots trained to fly Horsa and Hamilcar gliders. The aircraft struck the north face above the Roc de la Musique before descending south-east near a lake due to a blizzard. The exact cause of the crash remains undetermined.A Douglas Dakota FL588 crashed on the Pic de la Camisette, resulting in the loss of 20 glider pilots trained to fly Horsa and Hamilcar gliders. The aircraft struck the north face above the Roc de la Musique before descending south-east near a lake due to a blizzard. The exact cause of the crash remains undetermined.
Description
Douglas Dakota FL588 originated from RAF Northolt at 09:00 on a course for Marseilles, France to transport 20 glider pilots who were trained to fly Horsa and Hamilcar gliders. The Dakota aircraft crashed on the Pic de la Camisette (alt 2426 m ), striking the north face above the Roc de la Musique before coming down facing south-east near a lake. The exact cause of the crash is not known, although it is known that the aircraft came down in a blizzard.
Source of Information
https://the24sec.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/flying-drama-in-the-pyrenees-december-5th-1944/, http://francecrashes39-45.net/page_fiche_av.php?id=3007https://the24sec.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/flying-drama-in-the-pyrenees-december-5th-1944/, http://francecrashes39-45.net/page_fiche_av.php?id=3007Primary Cause
BlizzardBlizzardShare on:
