Narrative:
A Latécoère 631 flying boat, F-BDRD, was destroyed when it crashed into the English Channel, off St. Marcouf, France. All nineteen on board were killed.
The Latécoère 631 was en route to Biscarrosse, France when it encountered adverse weather conditions. It apparently struck the surface of the sea while flying through a snow storm.
| Status: | |
| Date: | Saturday 21 February 1948 |
| Type: |  Latécoère 631 |
| Operator: | Latécoère |
| Registration: | F-BDRD |
| MSN: | 7 |
| First flight: | 1948-01-26 () |
| Engines: | 6 Wright R-2600-A5B Cyclone |
| Crew: | Fatalities: / Occupants: |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: / Occupants: |
| Total: | Fatalities: 19 / Occupants: 19 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | off St. Marcouf ( France)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Ferry/positioning |
| Departure airport: | Le Havre Seaplane Base, France |
| Biscarrosse-Hourtiquets Seaplane Base, France |
A Latécoère 631 flying boat, F-BDRD, was destroyed when it crashed into the English Channel, off St. Marcouf, France. All nineteen on board were killed.
The Latécoère 631 was en route to Biscarrosse, France when it encountered adverse weather conditions. It apparently struck the surface of the sea while flying through a snow storm.
Sources:
» Singleton Argus (Monday 23 February 1948)Photos
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 Le Havre Seaplane Base to Biscarrosse-Hourtiquets Seaplane Base as the crow flies is 572 km (357 miles).
Accident location: Global; accuracy within tens or hundreds of kilometers.
Distance from Le Havre Seaplane Base to Biscarrosse-Hourtiquets Seaplane Base as the crow flies is 572 km (357 miles).
Accident location: Global; accuracy within tens or hundreds of kilometers.
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.
languages: 
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Latécoère 631
- 10 built
- 2nd loss
- The first fatal accident
- The worst accident (at the time)
- 2nd worst accident (currently)
France- 14th worst accident (at the time)
- 42nd worst accident (currently)
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