On November 24, 1956, a Douglas DC-6 (registration I-LEAD) operated by Linee Aeree Italiane - LAI was involved in an aviation accident near Paris-Orly, France during takeoff. 34 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The Commission was unable to find any malfunctioning of the aircraft or its equipment which would make it possible to determine why the aircraft followed the observed flight path. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 7 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A four-engine aircraft departing Paris-Orly runway 26 struggled to gain altitude, struck two houses, stalled, and crashed 600 meters past the runway. One passenger was seriously injured; all 34 others, including conductor Guido Cantelli, were killed.
Accident Details
Shortly after liftoff from runway 26 at Paris-Orly Airport, the four-engine aircraft experienced difficulties in gaining height. It subsequently struck two houses, stalled, and crashed in a large explosion approximately 600 meters beyond the runway end. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate, with debris scattered over an area of about 200 meters. Among the occupants, one passenger sustained serious injuries, while all 34 other people on board—including the Italian conductor Guido Cantelli—were killed.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation commission reported that it could not identify any malfunction of the aircraft or its equipment that would explain the observed flight path. The commission concluded that a slight loss of altitude soon after take-off was the main cause of the accident, though no explanation for this altitude loss was found. It noted that, while applicable regulations were followed, the presence of unmarked obstructions in the take-off path constituted an aggravating factor. The commission stated that the initial and direct cause of the accident remains unknown.
Probable cause
The Commission was unable to find any malfunctioning of the aircraft or its equipment which would make it possible to determine why the aircraft followed the observed flight path. The Commission, therefore, believes that: - the aircraft's slight loss of altitude soon after take-off was the main cause of the accident. There is no explanation for this loss of altitude, - although the regulations in force were observed, the presence of unmarked obstructions in the take-off path constituted an aggravating factor, - the initial and direct cause of the accident remains unknown.