19 fatalities

Twin-engine aircraft crashes into Mount Cardo in Corsica (VT-CEL)

Mt Cardo, FranceFlight

On March 27, 1948, a Vickers Viking (registration VT-CEL) operated by Indian National Airways - INA was involved in an aviation accident near Mt Cardo, France in flight. 19 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Controlled flight into terrain. 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)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft struck the slope of Mount Cardo in central Corsica while flying at 2,400 meters in poor weather, resulting in the deaths of all 19 people on board.

What happened

The incident involved a twin-engine aircraft operating in the airspace over central Corsica. At the time of the accident, the flight was proceeding at an altitude of approximately 2,400 meters under adverse meteorological conditions. The aircraft subsequently impacted the slope of Mount Cardo. Search and recovery teams located the wreckage several hours after the crash. All 19 occupants aboard the aircraft were killed in the event.

Findings

Official investigations attributed the accident to controlled flight into terrain. This conclusion highlights that the aircraft maintained its structural integrity until impact, suggesting a loss of situational awareness or navigation error rather than mechanical failure during the final approach to the mountainous terrain.

Probable cause

Controlled flight into terrain