What happened
During the departure phase from Toussus-le-Noble Airport, a twin engine aircraft departed from runway 07L under conditions of heavy fog and restricted visibility. Shortly after leaving the ground, while the aircraft was in its climb, the pilot began a turn to the right. This maneuver deviated from standard departure procedures, which require a straight-line ascent. During this turn, the flight crew lost control of the aircraft, causing it to pitch downward.
The plane subsequently struck an open field in the Saclay area, situated approximately 5 km southeast of the airfield. The force of the impact caused the airframe to break apart. There were seven fatalities resulting from the crash, with no survivors among the occupants. The passengers on board included a group of automotive journalists and a marketing executive traveling to Montluçon for vehicle testing.
Findings
Investigations into the accident highlighted that the aircraft was operating in thick fog at the time of the incident. A primary contributing factor was that the pilot initiated a right turn during the climb, which contradicted established departure protocols requiring a straight ascent.