What happened
On March 4, 1939, a three-engine aircraft operating a liaison route from Palma to Berlin via Barcelona, Genoa, and Rome encountered deteriorating conditions while cruising north of Nice. The crew faced fog, snowfall, and low clouds that prevented them from establishing radio contact with the Genoa station or determining their precise position. While flying at an altitude of 700 metres, the aircraft struck three larch trees in a snow-covered area between the villages of Roure and Saint Sauveur within the Mercantour National Park. The impact caused the undercarriage to be lost, leading to a stall and a subsequent crash that resulted in a fire. Rescue operations were initiated immediately, with soldiers from the French 141st Alpine Infantry Regiment arriving on the scene in the morning. Upon discovery, the wreckage was partially destroyed by flames, and all 10 occupants were confirmed dead.
Findings
An official investigation by the French commission determined that the primary cause of the accident was a navigation error committed by the crew. This error was attributed to the poor weather conditions and low visibility in the region, which prevented the flight team from maintaining visual contact with the ground. The report also noted that a potential failure of navigation instruments may have contributed to the incident. Additionally, the inquiry concluded that the aircraft was not engaged in any spy or reconnaissance mission but was instead conducting a standard liaison flight between Spain, Italy, and Germany.