1963 Air Nautic Vickers Viking crash
On 12 September 1963, a Vickers Viking operated by Air Nautic crashed into the north face of Canigó mountain near Py, France, while flying a charter from London Gatwick to Perpignan. All 40 people on board died (36 passengers and 4 crew). It was Air Nautic’s second fatal crash in less than a year, after a December 1962 crash that killed 25.
The crash was investigated by the BEA. The June 1964 report found navigation errors: the pilots chose a direct route without reporting their position. They were flying in poor weather, and Perpignan had limited navigation equipment. The crew did not use the Toulouse and Istres VOR navigation aids to determine their location.
The investigation also noted that Air Nautic knew the captain and co-pilot did not meet the required qualifications for operating a public transport aircraft, and that the airline had not provided operational procedures that might have prevented the accident. Fatigue among the crew was also considered a possible contributing factor.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 20:23 (CET).