Aircraft crash near Dinard Airport during mail flight

2 fatalities • Lannion, France • Landing (descent or approach)

A mail flight traveling from Paris to Lannion crashed west of Dinard Airport following a loss of control during a go-around maneuver in heavy fog.

What happened

During a scheduled mail delivery service operating between Paris and Lannion, an aircraft made an intermediate stop at Dinard Airport. While performing the final approach to the airfield, the flight crew encountered dense fog that obscured the runway from view. After passing the runway threshold at an altitude of approximately 200 feet, the captain elected to execute a go-around procedure.

As the aircraft traversed the length of the runway, the left wing made contact with the tops of several pine trees, resulting in a partial structural failure where roughly two meters of the wing were severed. This impact led to an immediate loss of control. The aircraft subsequently crashed approximately 3.3 km west of the airport, situated between the villages of Pleumeur-Bodou and Trébeurden. Search teams located the wreckage the following morning.

Findings

The accident resulted in two fatalities and one serious injury among the crew members. Investigators determined that the primary factor contributing to the crash was spatial disorientation experienced by the pilot-in-command during the low-visibility approach.

Probable cause

The pilot-in-command likely suffered from spatial disorientation while attempting a go-around in foggy conditions.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1971-12-05 Nord 262 accident near Lannion, France?

A mail flight traveling from Paris to Lannion crashed west of Dinard Airport following a loss of control during a go-around maneuver in heavy fog.

Were there any fatalities in the 1971-12-05 Nord 262 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 2 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1971-12-05 involved a Nord 262, registration F-BNMO, operated by Rousseau Aviation, at Lannion, France.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot-in-command likely suffered from spatial disorientation while attempting a go-around in foggy conditions.

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