On September 7, 1937, an Airspeed AS.6 Envoy (registration F-AQCS) operated by Air Pyrénées was involved in an aviation accident near Ribadesella, Spain in flight. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft was shot down by a Nationalist Air Force fighter. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A twin-engine airplane was shot down by a Nationalist Air Force fighter while approaching Ribadesella, resulting in the death of the sole pilot on board.
What happened
The incident involved a twin engine aircraft operating as a single-occupant positioning flight. The pilot departed from Biarritz-Parme Airport with the intention of traveling to Spain. During the approach phase near the area of Ribadesella, the aircraft came under fire from a Nationalist Air Force fighter. The hostile action resulted in the immediate destruction of the plane, which crashed shortly after being hit. The pilot was killed in the event.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the accident was caused by the aircraft being targeted and destroyed by enemy military forces. The primary factor leading to the loss of the aircraft and the fatality was the direct engagement by a fighter jet belonging to the Nationalist Air Force.
Probable cause
The aircraft was shot down by a Nationalist Air Force fighter.
What happened in the 7 Sept 1937 Airspeed AS.6 Envoy accident near Ribadesella, Spain?
A twin-engine airplane was shot down by a Nationalist Air Force fighter while approaching Ribadesella, resulting in the death of the sole pilot on board.
Were there any fatalities in the 7 Sept 1937 Airspeed AS.6 Envoy accident?
The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 7 Sept 1937 involved an Airspeed AS.6 Envoy, registration F-AQCS, operated by Air Pyrénées, at Ribadesella, Spain.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The aircraft was shot down by a Nationalist Air Force fighter.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…