Narrative:
The C-54 operated on a flight from Abidjan (ABJ), Ivory Coast, to Paris, France with en route stops at Casablanca and Bordeaux.
While on approach to Bordeaux in poor visibility the airplane descended into terrain and crashed in a small wood.
CAUSES:
The causes of the accident classified in chronological order of occurrence can be analysed as follows:
(a) Unsuccessful initiative of the tower controller and pilot error of judgement leading to an attempted landing in poor visibility;
(b) Use of a procedure that takes up attention by over-using the means for directional guidance to the detriment of a safe altitude;
(c) Probable altimeter error (setting or other);
(d) Error of appreciation of the vertical of the outer marker.
Crew fatigue resulting from excessively long continuous working hours and interference with the crew's work caused by the presence of two extra members in the cockpit during training may have contributed to the occurrence of the above errors. It is indeed necessary to point out here, in favour of the pilot, qualities of seriousness, prudence and perfect competence unanimously recognized.
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Ground
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Saturday 7 February 1953 |
| Time: | 09:28 UTC |
| Type: |  Douglas C-54A-5-DC (DC-4) |
| Operator: | Union Aéromaritime de Transport |
| Registration: | F-BFGR |
| MSN: | 10290 |
| First flight: | 1944 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 41250 |
| Engines: | 4 Pratt & Whitney R-2000-7 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 8 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 13 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 21 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | 5,5 km (3.4 mls) NE of Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport (BOD) ( France)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Casablanca (unknown airport), Morocco |
| Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport (BOD/LFBD), France |
The C-54 operated on a flight from Abidjan (ABJ), Ivory Coast, to Paris, France with en route stops at Casablanca and Bordeaux.
While on approach to Bordeaux in poor visibility the airplane descended into terrain and crashed in a small wood.
Probable Cause:
CAUSES:
The causes of the accident classified in chronological order of occurrence can be analysed as follows:
(a) Unsuccessful initiative of the tower controller and pilot error of judgement leading to an attempted landing in poor visibility;
(b) Use of a procedure that takes up attention by over-using the means for directional guidance to the detriment of a safe altitude;
(c) Probable altimeter error (setting or other);
(d) Error of appreciation of the vertical of the outer marker.
Crew fatigue resulting from excessively long continuous working hours and interference with the crew's work caused by the presence of two extra members in the cockpit during training may have contributed to the occurrence of the above errors. It is indeed necessary to point out here, in favour of the pilot, qualities of seriousness, prudence and perfect competence unanimously recognized.
Accident investigation:
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Classification:
Insufficient rest / fatigueControlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Ground
Photos
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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