What happened
On the day of the accident, a twin-engine aircraft departed from Paris-Le Bourget Airport at 11:23 local time, en route to Cannes. The flight was carrying two people: the pilot and one passenger. While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 meters over the Drôme region under favorable weather conditions, the aircraft encountered a second aircraft.
The second aircraft, a Robin DR-308 with registration F-BSLO, had departed from Gap Airfield at 12:30 local time. The pilot of this aircraft was performing a glider tow mission toward Chartres via Moulins on behalf of the Bertin de Chatenay Aeroclub, pulling two gliders behind the plane.
A collision occurred between the two aircraft in mid-air. Although the pilots of the two towed gliders managed to disconnect from the tow rope and perform safe landings, the primary aircraft involved in the impact lost control. Both the twin-engine plane and the Robin DR-308 descended into the terrain, crashing on the slopes of Mt Salaure at an elevation of 1,100 meters. The impact resulted in the total destruction of both aircraft and three fatalities, leaving no survivors among the occupants of the two powered aircraft.
Findings
- The collision occurred during the cruise phase for the Paris-bound flight and during a towing operation for the Gap Airfield flight.
- The mid-air collision between the two aircraft led to an uncontrollable descent into mountainous terrain.