No fatalities

Engine fire forces emergency field landing near Chelles-le-Pin

Chelles-le-Pin, FranceFlight

On December 24, 1947, a Douglas A-26 Invader operated by French Air Force - Armée de l'Air was involved in an aviation accident near Chelles-le-Pin, France in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An engine fire occurred shortly after takeoff, necessitating an emergency landing that resulted in the total loss of the aircraft. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

Shortly after takeoff from Vélizy-Villacoublay, an engine fire forced the crew to make an emergency belly landing in a field. All 15 occupants sustained minor injuries while the aircraft was destroyed.

What happened

The incident occurred shortly after the aircraft departed Vélizy-Villacoublay. Within minutes of takeoff, a fire broke out in one of the engines. The captain decided to return to the departure point but was unable to reach the runway in time due to the severity of the situation. Consequently, the crew executed an emergency landing in a field situated near the aerodrome of Chelles-le-Pin.

The aircraft made a belly landing and came to rest fully engulfed in flames. There were 15 occupants on board, the majority of whom were women and children traveling back to Algeria. All passengers and crew members sustained minor injuries during the event. The airframe was damaged beyond repair.

Findings

The official investigation identified the engine fire as the primary cause of the accident.

Probable cause

An engine fire occurred shortly after takeoff, necessitating an emergency landing that resulted in the total loss of the aircraft.