Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 8 January 1958
Aircraft Type: Douglas DC-3A
Owner/operator: Air France
Registration Number: F-BAOA
Location: Poitiers-Biard Airport (PIS) – ÿ France
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 8
Component Affected: Landing gearLanding gear
Investigating Agency: BEABEA
Category: Accident
A DC-3 aircraft carrying a pilot-in-command, flight mechanic, four trainee pilots, and two passengers experienced a catastrophic landing near an army munitions dump following a training exercise. The landing was aborted due to a gear failure, which resulted in a veering to the right and subsequent crash.A DC-3 aircraft carrying a pilot-in-command, flight mechanic, four trainee pilots, and two passengers experienced a catastrophic landing near an army munitions dump following a training exercise. The landing was aborted due to a gear failure, which resulted in a veering to the right and subsequent crash.

Description

The DC-3 left for a training flight at Poitiers; on board were a pilot-in-command/instructor, a flight mechanic, four trainee pilots and two passengers. With a trainee pilot at the controls, a break-through and landing on one engine was carried out. The landing was discontinued because the gear failed to lock down too late. When power was re-applied the DC-3 veered the right and crashed into the buildings of an army munitions dump. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The accident was due to the successive appearance of two incidents during a training exercise: slowness of the landing gear to extend; failure of the right engine to pick up power. The crew which included a pilot under training and a mechanic with limited experience, did not properly co-ordinate their actions. The instructor, because of his position in the cockpit, was unable to assist.”

Primary Cause

Slowness of the landing gear to extend, combined with failure of the right engine to pick up power.Slowness of the landing gear to extend, combined with failure of the right engine to pick up power.

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