Descripción:
At 15:36 the Airbus 320 contacted Montpellier approach and reported descending through FL140. The crew were told to continue to VOR Fréjorgues and descend to FL80. FL80 was reached at 15:39. At the same time a Grob G.103 glider plane (F-CGXB) was flying nearby at the same altitude. Both were on a collision course and the A.320 captain took avoiding action by banking to the right. The left wing of the Airbus collided with the Grob's horizontal stabilizer. Both aircraft managed to make a safe landing.
CAUSES PROBABLES: "L'abordage résulte de l'inadéquation du concept "voir et éviter", seul applicable dans cette partie de l'espace, compte tenu des caractéristiques actuelles de l'aviation. Plus spécifiquement, l'abordage s'est produit parce que :
- les occupants du G 103 n'ont pas vu l'A 320 sur leur travers gauche,
- l'équipage de l'A 320 a discerné trop tardivement le G 103 pour pouvoir, compte tenu de la vitesse de rapprochement des deux aéronefs et du temps
de détection et de réaction, en dépit de sa vigilance, réussir sa manoeuvre d'évitement."
| Estado: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Fecha: | viernes 12 febrero 1999 |
| Hora: | 16:40 |
| Tipo: |  Airbus A320-211 |
| Operador: | Air France |
| Registración: | F-GJVG |
| Numéro de série: | 270 |
| Año de Construcción: | 1991-11-14 (7 years 3 months) |
| Horas Totales de la Célula: | 14425 |
| Motores: | 2 CFMI CFM56-5A1 |
| Tripulación: | Fatalidades: 0 / Ocupantes: 6 |
| Pasajeros: | Fatalidades: 0 / Ocupantes: 163 |
| Total: | Fatalidades: 0 / Ocupantes: 169 |
| Daños en la Aeronave: | Menor |
| Consecuencias: | Repaired |
| Ubicación: | Grenouillet ( Francia)
|
| Fase: | En ruta (ENR) |
| Naturaleza: | Vuelo Doméstico Programado |
| Aeropuerto de Salida: | Paris-Orly Airport (ORY/LFPO), Francia |
| Montpellier-Fréjorgues Airport (MPL/LFMT), Francia | |
| Número de Vuelo: | AF550 |
At 15:36 the Airbus 320 contacted Montpellier approach and reported descending through FL140. The crew were told to continue to VOR Fréjorgues and descend to FL80. FL80 was reached at 15:39. At the same time a Grob G.103 glider plane (F-CGXB) was flying nearby at the same altitude. Both were on a collision course and the A.320 captain took avoiding action by banking to the right. The left wing of the Airbus collided with the Grob's horizontal stabilizer. Both aircraft managed to make a safe landing.
Probable Cause:
CAUSES PROBABLES: "L'abordage résulte de l'inadéquation du concept "voir et éviter", seul applicable dans cette partie de l'espace, compte tenu des caractéristiques actuelles de l'aviation. Plus spécifiquement, l'abordage s'est produit parce que :
- les occupants du G 103 n'ont pas vu l'A 320 sur leur travers gauche,
- l'équipage de l'A 320 a discerné trop tardivement le G 103 pour pouvoir, compte tenu de la vitesse de rapprochement des deux aéronefs et du temps
de détection et de réaction, en dépit de sa vigilance, réussir sa manoeuvre d'évitement."
Accident investigation:
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Fotos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Paris-Orly Airport to Montpellier-Fréjorgues Airport as the crow flies is 581 km (363 miles).
Distance from Paris-Orly Airport to Montpellier-Fréjorgues Airport as the crow flies is 581 km (363 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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