Fatal Mountain Flight Accident Involving a French Military Transport Aircraft (F-RAIA)

Mission and Departure Details On December 15, an aircraft based at Creil Air Base (BA110) was dispatched to Toulouse-Francazal Air Base for a three-day period to conduct local missions with paratroopers. Operating under the callsign Cotam 1492, the aircraft departed Toulouse-Francazal Airport at 0952 local time with 12 paratroopers and four crew members on board, acting on behalf of the Escadron de Transport 01.062 Vercors. At 1017 local time, while approaching the drop zone of Tour du Crieu at an altitude of 12,000 feet, nine skydivers exited the cabin. Following the drop, the captain informed ground control of an intention to conduct a low flight over the Pyrenees mountains for 10 to 15 minutes before returning to base.