What happened
A twin-engine aircraft was performing a taxi flight toward Paris-Le Bourget when it encountered severe meteorological conditions near Alençon. The flight was transporting nine industrialists from Paris. During the transit, the aircraft entered an area characterized by heavy snowfall and significant icing.
As the weather worsened, the pilot contacted Air Traffic Control to report technical difficulties. The crew indicated that they were struggling to maintain control of the plane and requested permission to divert to a nearby airfield for assistance. Shortly after this communication, the aircraft impacted a tree and crashed into a field situated on the outskirts of Le Pin-la-Garenne. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the plane and 10 fatalities.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the primary factor was the accumulation of ice on the wings and fuselage, which led to a loss of flight control. Additionally, it was determined that carburetor icing likely caused issues with the engines during the encounter with the heavy snow and freezing conditions.