Skydiving Pilatus PC-6 crashes just after takeoff in France - 11 dead

[onetrack]

A Pilatus PC-6 skyding aircraft has crashed just after takeoff in France, with all 11 on board (5 parachutists, 5 instructors and the pilot) fatally injured.

The aircraft crashed onto a bikepath very close to the airstrip it had just taken off from. There were no injuries or fatalities on the ground, despite the area where the aircraft crashed being a built-up area.

 

The 5 parachutists were all local nurses doing their ab initio jumps, and were harnessed to instructors for tandem jumping.

 

The aircraft involved was built in 1991, so it was 35 years old. This crash must raise concerns over any potential similarity to the Pilatus PC-6 skydiving aircraft crash at Moruya in Sept 2025.

 

https://simpleflying.com/pilatus-pc-6-skydiving-plane-crash-france/

 

https://www.atsb.gov.au/news/2025/moruya-skydiving-flight-accident-preliminary-report

 

[facthunter]

Properly maintained, that (35 Years)  is not Old. Pilatus are a well regarded Builder.   Nev. 

[Garfly]

 

 

Blancolirio's take:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob-KuPBkMHc

 

[facthunter]

It's an engine failure then is it? . Nev

[onetrack]

Only on some witnesses visual/aural reports. The investigation might find a different result. What would interest me is the drift to the left before the Pilatus was reaching V1. That seems to indicate a control problem, it's not like there was a strong crosswind. The fuel reserve scenario is interesting, not a lot of fuel reserve there after a couple of quick trips up and back.

 

QUOTE:

 

Anomaly During Takeoff Roll: Before reaching V₁ (takeoff decision speed), ADS-B tracking indicated that the aircraft began to drift slightly to the left.

Loss of Control: Immediately after passing the runway threshold, the aircraft entered an uncommanded left-hand turn, plummeting into a nearly vertical descent before crashing onto a bikepath and road just outside the airport perimeter.

[Garfly]

 

I think this is a well considered review of what's known about this.  It's by a French aviator/commentator.

He sets it in a wide context of other (possibly) related accidents (including Moruya).

This guy takes a serious, humble and compassionate approach to "accidentology" in general.

I believe he's done the voice-over of this English version himself so it comes across well and naturally (albeit outasync)

(As opposed to rubbish robo voices.)  Though the original French with subtitles is also choosable.