Night Takeoff Accident at Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport (F-BIAP)

Overview and Sequence of Events A four-engine aircraft departed runway 23 at Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport during the night. After takeoff, it followed a straight-in path but did not gain sufficient altitude. At approximately 100 feet, the aircraft struck pine trees, stalled, and crashed in flames into a wooded area 1,050 meters beyond the runway end. ## Damage and Casualties The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire. All 9 crew members and 45 passengers on board were killed. Eleven passengers were seriously injured. ## Official Findings The investigation board stated that the accident was probably caused by the most unfavorable combination of several factors, including possible engine failure, incorrect undercarriage or flap maneuver, control-system malfunction, a cockpit incident, false instrument indications, an incorrect artificial horizon, anemometer failure, an incorrect altimeter setting, or a variometer error. The reconstructed flight indicated that during the first climbout segment and a very short critical phase, a slight increase in speed could cause a considerable decrease in rate of climb or even a slight loss of altitude. Given the rapid sequence of cockpit operations, rapid changes in flight parameters, and imprecise or inaccurate readings of certain instruments, as well as the lack of time reference and external visual references, a pilot could follow a flight path that brought the aircraft back near the ground if optimum climbing speed was not maintained and the altimeter was not carefully watched.