1952 Air France SNCASE Languedoc crash
SNCASE Languedoc of Air France
A SNCASE Languedoc of Air France, similar to the accident aircraft
Accident
DateMarch 3, 1952 (1952-03-03)
SummaryJammed controls, design error
Siteca 1 km N of Nice-le Var Airport
43°40′00″N 7°12′28″E / 43.66667°N 7.20778°E / 43.66667; 7.20778
Aircraft
Aircraft typeSNCASE SE.161/P7 Languedoc
OperatorAir France
RegistrationF-BCUM
Flight originTunis-El Aouina Airport (TUN/DTTA), Tunisia
StopoverNice-le Var Airport (NCE/LFMN), Nice
DestinationParis-Le Bourget Airport (LBG/LFPB), Paris
Passengers34
Crew4
Fatalities38
Survivors0

The 1952 Air France SNCASE Languedoc crash occurred on 3 March 1952 when a SNCASE SE.161/P7 Languedoc aircraft of Air France crashed on take-off from Nice Airport for Le Bourget Airport, Paris, killing all 38 people on board. The cause of the accident was that the aileron controls had jammed, which in itself was contributed to by a design fault. The accident was the third-deadliest in France at the time and is the deadliest involving the SNCASE Languedoc.

Aircraft

The accident aircraft was a SNCASE SE.161/P7 Languedoc, msn 43, registration F-BCUM. The aircraft was powered by four 1,220-horsepower (910-kilowatt) Pratt & Whitney R-1830 SIC-3-G engines.[1]

Accident

John Emlyn-Jones
Lise Topart [fr].

Shortly after take-off from Nice Airport on a scheduled domestic passenger flight to Orly Airport, Paris, the aircraft was seen to bank to the left, roll onto its back and crash about 1 kilometre (1,100 yd) north of the airport. All four crew and 34 passengers on board were killed.[1] The flight had originated in Tunis, Tunisia.[2] The accident was the third deadliest in France at the time and is the deadliest involving the SNCASE Languedoc.[1]

Thirteen of the victims were British, including shipowner John Emlyn-Jones and his wife.[3] Amongst the other victims were the French actresses Lise Topart [fr] and Michèle Verly and the American actress and ballet dancer Harriet Toby. A Frenchwoman was initially reported to have survived the crash seriously injured,[4] but she died later in hospital,[5] bringing the total to 38 deaths.[1]

Investigation

An investigation found that the cause of the accident was that the co-pilot's aileron controls had jammed due to a chain slipping off its sprocket. The difficulty of setting and inspecting the chains in the dual control columns was cited as a contributory factor in the accident.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "F-BCUM Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  2. ^ "BREVITIES". Flight (7 March 1952): 279.
  3. ^ "RETURNING TOURISTS IN CRASH". The Times. No. 52251. London. 4 March 1952. col D, p. 6.
  4. ^ "38 KILLED IN AIRLINER". The Times. No. 52251. London. 4 March 1952. col D, p. 6.
  5. ^ "In the News: A Boat Race, a Submarine Escape Tower, U. S. Helicopters and Aircraft Accidents". Illustrated London News. London (5891): 474. 15 March 1952.
Categories