# TAI Flight 307

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{{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](/source/Controlled_flight_into_terrain)
|site             = [Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport](/source/Bordeaux%E2%80%93M%C3%A9rignac_Airport), France
|coordinates      = {{Coord|44.8283|-0.7156|display=inline,title}}
|aircraft_type    = [Douglas DC-7](/source/Douglas_DC-7)C
|operator         = [Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux](/source/Transports_A%C3%A9riens_Intercontinentaux) (TAI)
|tail_number      = F-BIAP
|origin           = [Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport](/source/Bordeaux%E2%80%93M%C3%A9rignac_Airport), France
|stopover         = [Bamako Airport](/source/Bamako-S%C3%A9nou_International_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](/source/Transports_A%C3%A9riens_Intercontinentaux) (TAI) between France and the [Ivory Coast](/source/Ivory_Coast) via [Mali](/source/Mali) operated by a [Douglas DC-7](/source/Douglas_DC-7)C. On 24 September 1959, the aircraft crashed during its departure from [Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport](/source/Bordeaux%E2%80%93M%C3%A9rignac_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](/source/GMT).<ref name="CAA" /> Weather at the time of departure was a {{convert|3|kn|mph|adj=on}} wind and light [drizzle](/source/drizzle) that did not significantly restrict [visibility](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Aircraft_registration) F-BIAP, was a [Douglas DC-7](/source/Douglas_DC-7)C airliner powered by four [Wright R-3350-30W](/source/Wright_R-3350-30W) radial piston engines. Delivered new to [Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux](/source/Transports_A%C3%A9riens_Intercontinentaux) on 9 November 1957, it carried manufacturer's [serial number](/source/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](/source/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)](/source/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)](/source/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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [TAI Flight 307](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TAI_Flight_307) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TAI_Flight_307?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.