Narrative:
The Boeing SA.307 Stratoliner F-BELZ arrived at Bastia (BIA), France from Nice (NCE) at 05:25 UTC. The plane took off again for the return flight via Ajaccio (AJA), Corsica at 11:49 and was cleared for a cruising altitude of FL120, estimating Ajaccio at 12:20 UTC. Last radio contact with the flight was at 12:09 when th flight crew replied to the weather and active runway information from Ajaccio Approach.
At 12:12 the flight flew into a sheer rock face of Monte Renoso which is located 45 km from the Ajaccio VOR on the 048 radial. Impact was at an altitude of 2285 m (7500 feet) and about 50 m (165 feet) below the summit. The aircraft rebounded after impact and fell about 100 m down the slope of the mountain.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The accident was attributed to a series of errors by the crew who: (1) made insufficient preparation for the flight and committed a serious error in estimating the duration of the flight. (2) failed to observe the cruising altitude entered on the flight plan. (3) failed to check properly the navigation of the aircraft which resulted in a wrong estimation of the position of the aircraft. (4) failed to maintain the safety altitude. and (5) started the descent prematurely, subsequently entering into instrument flight conditions. The errors of the crew were made possible (1) by a lack of supervision of the flights on the part of the operator; and (2) by a lack of correct route instructions for the segment Bastia-Ajaccio. The Board was led to conclude that the crew of F-BEIZ did not have the necessary instructions for the route via the turning point. Even supposing that the instructions supplied to the Board by the operator were issued before the accident, and that they were available to the pilot-in-command, the Board considered that these instructions were inaccurate and dangerous since they did not give the altitude at the turning point and they provided for a flight time between Bastia and Ajaccio which was incompatible with the attainment of safety altitudes. (3) by a certain fatigue of the crew. Although the regulations concerning flight time limitations were strictly observed, it is worth mentioning that the flight activity of the crew was fairly strenuous during the three days preceding the accident."
Premature descent
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
» ICAO Accident Digest No.14 Volume I, Circular 71-AN/63 (108-111)
accident date: 29-12-1962
type: Boeing SA.307 Stratoliner B-1
registration: F-BELZ
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Saturday 29 December 1962 |
| Time: | 12:12 UTC |
| Type: | Boeing S.307B-1 Stratoliner |
| Operator: | Airnautic |
| Registration: | F-BELZ |
| MSN: | 2001 |
| First flight: | 1940 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 41150 |
| Engines: | 4 Wright R-1820-97 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 22 / Occupants: 22 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 25 / Occupants: 25 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Monte Renoso, Corsica ( France)
|
| Crash site elevation: | 2285 m (7497 feet) amsl |
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Bastia-Poretta Airport (BIA/LFKB), France |
| Ajaccio-Campo dell'Oro Airport (AJA/LFKJ), France |
The Boeing SA.307 Stratoliner F-BELZ arrived at Bastia (BIA), France from Nice (NCE) at 05:25 UTC. The plane took off again for the return flight via Ajaccio (AJA), Corsica at 11:49 and was cleared for a cruising altitude of FL120, estimating Ajaccio at 12:20 UTC. Last radio contact with the flight was at 12:09 when th flight crew replied to the weather and active runway information from Ajaccio Approach.
At 12:12 the flight flew into a sheer rock face of Monte Renoso which is located 45 km from the Ajaccio VOR on the 048 radial. Impact was at an altitude of 2285 m (7500 feet) and about 50 m (165 feet) below the summit. The aircraft rebounded after impact and fell about 100 m down the slope of the mountain.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The accident was attributed to a series of errors by the crew who: (1) made insufficient preparation for the flight and committed a serious error in estimating the duration of the flight. (2) failed to observe the cruising altitude entered on the flight plan. (3) failed to check properly the navigation of the aircraft which resulted in a wrong estimation of the position of the aircraft. (4) failed to maintain the safety altitude. and (5) started the descent prematurely, subsequently entering into instrument flight conditions. The errors of the crew were made possible (1) by a lack of supervision of the flights on the part of the operator; and (2) by a lack of correct route instructions for the segment Bastia-Ajaccio. The Board was led to conclude that the crew of F-BEIZ did not have the necessary instructions for the route via the turning point. Even supposing that the instructions supplied to the Board by the operator were issued before the accident, and that they were available to the pilot-in-command, the Board considered that these instructions were inaccurate and dangerous since they did not give the altitude at the turning point and they provided for a flight time between Bastia and Ajaccio which was incompatible with the attainment of safety altitudes. (3) by a certain fatigue of the crew. Although the regulations concerning flight time limitations were strictly observed, it is worth mentioning that the flight activity of the crew was fairly strenuous during the three days preceding the accident."
Accident investigation:
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|
Classification:
Insufficient rest / fatiguePremature descent
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» Air Pictorial 2/66 p.57» ICAO Accident Digest No.14 Volume I, Circular 71-AN/63 (108-111)
Photos
accident date: 29-12-1962
type: Boeing SA.307 Stratoliner B-1
registration: F-BELZ
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Bastia-Poretta Airport to Ajaccio-Campo dell'Oro Airport as the crow flies is 89 km (56 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Bastia-Poretta Airport to Ajaccio-Campo dell'Oro Airport as the crow flies is 89 km (56 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Boeing S.307
France- 11th worst accident (at the time)
- 24th worst accident (currently)
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