Accident Overview
A mail flight operated on behalf of the French Postal Service (La Poste) was completing a route from Rennes to Clermont-Ferrand with intermediate stops in Nantes and Poitiers. During the final approach to Nantes-Château Bougon Airport at night, the crew failed to realize that their altitude was too low. The aircraft struck power cables and subsequently crashed in flames in a field approximately 12 kilometers from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed, and all three crew members were killed.
Contributing Factors
The official investigation identified several factors that combined to cause the accident. These included poor crew coordination, failure to follow the published approach procedures, lack of visibility, and the presence of high obstructions in the vicinity.
Investigation Findings
The probable cause, as stated in the official findings, is the consequence of the combination of the following factors: poor crew coordination, failure to follow the published approach procedures, lack of visibility, and high obstructions.