Aircraft Crash in Saint-Germain-du-Teil Due to Icing (7T-WGF)

Incident Overview and Flight Details A twin-engine aircraft departed from Paris-Le Bourget Airport at approximately 1500 local time, heading to Boufarik Air Base near Algiers. The flight carried a crew of five, one employee of the National Bank of Algeria, and a cargo of fiduciary papers intended for bank note manufacture. The aircraft was cruising at flight level 150 when the crew encountered icing conditions and decided to climb to a higher altitude. During the climb, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent, partially disintegrated in mid-air, and crashed into a field in Saint-Germain-du-Teil, located about 20 km east of Mende. The aircraft was completely destroyed, and all six occupants were killed. ## Official Investigation Findings In a report published in January 2013, the French BEA confirmed that the accident was caused by excessive frost accretion on all surfaces and the airframe of the aircraft. The investigation determined that the aircraft was operating at the limit of its performance capabilities in adverse weather conditions, including the accretion of clear ice. This situation triggered the frost alarm, prompting the pilots to increase altitude. At that point, the aircraft entered a spin, and the tail detached due to aerodynamic forces that exceeded its certification and design limits. The out-of-control aircraft completed several barrel rolls before breaking up and descending to the ground.