5 fatalities

Crash of Reconnaissance Group II/35 aircraft near Valence (E-339)

Bathernay, FranceFlight

On April 20, 1938, an Amiot 143 (registration E-339) operated by French Air Force - Armée de l'Air was involved in an aviation accident near Bathernay, France in flight. 5 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

A military reconnaissance aircraft crashed in the Drôme department while flying from Lyon-Bron to Marseille-Marginane, resulting in the deaths of all five crew members on board.

What happened

The incident involved an aircraft operated by the Reconnaissance Group II/35, which was based at Lyon-Bron. The crew was conducting a scheduled flight from Lyon-Bron to Marseille-Marginane when the accident occurred. While overflying the Perdrialon Valley, the aircraft lost control and subsequently crashed in Bathernay. This location is situated approximately 30 km north of Valence in the Drôme department. All five individuals on board were killed in the crash.

Findings

The source material does not provide specific technical findings or a detailed probable cause statement beyond the fact that the aircraft went out of control during flight.