What happened
During an approach to the Bordeaux-Mérignac airport, a four-engine aircraft encountered heavy fog and significantly reduced visibility. While attempting to land, the flight crew failed to maintain a safe altitude, causing the plane to strike the tops of pine trees in a forested region near Eysines, north of the airfield. The impact led to an aerodynamic stall and a subsequent intense post-crash fire that completely destroyed the airframe. The accident resulted in nine fatalities, comprising six crew members and three passengers.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing factors related to both operational decisions and environmental conditions. A primary factor was a decision by the pilot-in-command and the tower controller to attempt an approach despite insufficient visibility. The investigation also noted that the use of intensive guidance procedures may have distracted from maintaining proper altitude safety.
Technical errors were also identified, including a potential incorrect altimeter setting and a misinterpretation of the vertical altitude relative to the outer marker. Furthermore, human factors played a role; the crew was experiencing fatigue due to an extended period of duty, and the cockpit environment was likely compromised by the presence of two trainee crew members, which may have caused additional discomfort or distraction.