16 fatalities

Fatal crash of aircraft near Lyon-Bron Airport (44-66200)

Poleymieux-au-Mont-d’Or, FranceTakeoff (climb)

On October 15, 1945, a Martin B-26 Marauder (registration 44-66200) operated by French Air Force - Armée de l'Air was involved in an aviation accident near Poleymieux-au-Mont-d’Or, France during takeoff. 16 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of control due to an unexpected technical failure during the initial climb after takeoff. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-08-25Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed into a hillside north of Lyon shortly after takeoff from Lyon-Bron Airport, resulting in the deaths of all sixteen people on board.

What happened

The incident occurred during the initial climb phase following departure from Lyon-Bron Airport. While ascending, the flight crew reported an unexpected technical malfunction that led to a loss of control over the airframe. The aircraft subsequently impacted the terrain on a hill located in Poleymieux-au-Mont-d’Or, situated north of Lyon. The crash resulted in fatal injuries for everyone on board, with 16 fatalities recorded among the personnel and passengers.

Findings

The source material identifies an unexpected technical failure as the immediate trigger for the loss of control during the climb. No further investigative conclusions or specific mechanical causes are detailed in the provided text.

Probable cause

Loss of control due to an unexpected technical failure during the initial climb after takeoff.