What happened
During the Paris Air Show, a Tupolev Tu-144 was performing a series of maneuvers over runway 03. After completing a low-altitude pass at approximately 190 meters, the crew increased engine thrust to begin a steep ascent, reaching an altitude of 1,200 meters. As the aircraft began its descent, it reached 750 meters when a sudden left roll of 40 degrees occurred under high positive g-loads between 4 and 4.5g.
At a speed of 780 km/h and an altitude of 280 meters, the front left wing separated from the airframe, striking the left main wing and rupturing the fuel tank. This structural failure caused the aircraft to lose control and break apart in mid-air. The wreckage crashed in flames near Goussainville. The accident resulted in 14 fatalities, including all 6 crew members on board and 8 individuals on the ground, while 28 others were injured. Several residential buildings in the area were destroyed by the impact.
Findings
Investigations involving French and Soviet experts concluded that there were no mechanical or operational defects found in the aircraft's construction. The inquiry suggested that human intervention was the primary factor. On the morning of the accident, a French Air Force Mirage III was performing aerial photography near the Tupolev. The presence of this fighter jet likely caused a distraction for the Tupolev crew, who perceived an insufficient separation distance between the two planes.
As the Mirage III performed a left turn, the pilot-in-command of the Tupolev Tu-144 initiated a maneuver to avoid a potential collision. This maneuver resulted in a recorded negative aerodynamic force of one g. While the aircraft was designed to withstand positive loads of five to seven g, it could only sustain a negative load of one g. The application of this negative force led to the structural failure of the left wing.