{{Short description|1959 aviation accident}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox Aircraft occurrence |name = TAI Flight 307 |occurrence_type = Accident |image = Madair Douglas DC-7 Manteufel.jpg |image_size = 300 |caption = A DC-7C of TAI similar to the crash aircraft |date = {{start date|1959|09|24|df=y}} |summary = Controlled flight into terrain |site = Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport, France |coordinates = {{Coord|44.8283|-0.7156|display=inline,title}} |aircraft_type = Douglas DC-7C |operator = Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux (TAI) |tail_number = F-BIAP |origin = Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport, France |stopover = Bamako Airport, Mali |destination = Abidjan, Ivory Coast |occupants = 65 |passengers = 56 |crew = 9 |injuries = 11 |fatalities = 54 |survivors = 11 }}
'''TAI Flight 307''' was a scheduled flight operated by Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux (TAI) between France and the Ivory Coast via Mali operated by a Douglas DC-7C. On 24 September 1959, the aircraft crashed during its departure from Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport, France when it flew into trees.<ref name="CAA" /> All of the flight crew and 45 of the 56 passengers on board were killed; the other 11 passengers were seriously injured.<ref name="CAA" />
==Accident== The DC-7C arrived at Bordeaux from Paris, making a scheduled stop on its route to West Africa. Following a two-hour stopover, departure from Bordeaux took place at 22:33 GMT.<ref name="CAA" /> Weather at the time of departure was a {{convert|3|kn|mph|adj=on}} wind and light drizzle that did not significantly restrict visibility.<ref name="CAA" /> Following takeoff, the aircraft reached an altitude of {{convert|30|m|ft}}, and failed to climb further before flying into a pine forest located {{convert|2950|m|ft}} from the end of the runway.<ref name="CAA" />
The aircraft cut a swath through the forest; some of the passengers were thrown clear of the wreckage as the fuselage broke up, before being destroyed in a post-crash fire.<ref name="Times54576" /> Because of the darkness and a lack of roads in the accident area, rescue workers had difficulty reaching the scene of the crash; their vehicles were unable to approach closer than {{convert|0.5|mi|km}} to the impact site.<ref name="Times54576" /> Twelve survivors were taken to a hospital in Bordeaux; one later died despite medical care, bringing the total number of deaths caused by the crash to 54.<ref name="Times54575" /><ref name="Times54578" />
==Aircraft== The aircraft involved in the accident, registered F-BIAP, was a Douglas DC-7C airliner powered by four Wright R-3350-30W radial piston engines. Delivered new to Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux on 9 November 1957, it carried manufacturer's serial number 45366.<ref name="eastwood" />
==Probable cause== The Investigation Board appointed to determine the cause of the crash reported that the accident was most likely caused by a combination of factors. Evidence from a reconstructed flight showed that with an increase in speed for a few seconds, the rate of climb of the aircraft will decrease; with a lack of visual references "a pilot may follow a line of flight that will bring the aircraft back near the ground if, during this period, optimum climbing speed is not maintained and the altimeter is not carefully watched".<ref name="CAA" />
==References== ;Citations {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="CAA">Civil Aviation Authority 1974, p. 18/59</ref> <ref name="Times54575"> {{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Over 40 killed in French airliner – crash just after take-off |department=News |author= |date=25 September 1959 |page=12 |issue=54575 |column=D }}</ref> <ref name="Times54576"> {{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Bordeaux Air Crash Death Roll 53 – Three Britons feared dead. |department=News |author= |date=26 September 1959 |page=6 |issue=54576 |column=G }}</ref> <ref name="Times54578"> {{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Bordeaux |department=News in Brief |author= |date=29 September 1959 |page=9 |issue=54578 |column=G }}</ref> <ref name="eastwood">Eastwood 1991, p. 212</ref> }} ;Bibliography {{refbegin}} *{{cite book |title = World Accident Summary |publisher = Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom) |year = 1974 |isbn = 0-903083-44-2}} *{{cite book |last=Eastwood |first= Tony |author2=John Roach |title = Piston Engine Airliner Production List | publisher = The Aviation Hobby Shop | year = 1991 | isbn = 0-907178-37-5}} {{refend}}
==External links== * {{in lang|fr}} [https://www.bea.aero/fileadmin/documents/docspa/1959/f-ap590924/pdf/f-ap590924.pdf Rapport final de la commission d'enquete sur l'accident survenu, le 24 septembre 2959, a Bordeaux-Merignac, a l'avion DC 7 F-BIAP de la Compagnie T. A. I.] - Posted at the website of the BEA (France), [https://www.bea.aero/en/investigation-reports/notified-events/detail/event/le-f-biap-sest-ecrase-dans-un-bois-de-pins-assez-dense-ce-bois-est-traverse-par-une-ancienne-tr-1/ see profile] {{Aviation accidents and incidents in France between 1950 and 1999}} {{Aviation accidents and incidents in 1959}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:TAI Douglas DC-7 accident}} Category:Aviation accidents and incidents involving the Douglas DC-7 Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 1959 Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in France Category:Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux accidents and incidents Category:1959 in France