Airbus A320 accident near Perpignan, Fr, November 27, 2008
On November 27, 2008 at about 3:46 pm local time, a Airbus A320, registered DAXLA, was destroyed in an accident near Perpignan. It was a flight test under non-U.S. private rules. 7 people were killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 27, 2008 · about 3:46 pm local time
- Place
- Perpignan, France · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 7 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Airbus A320 · all A320s on the register
- Registration
- DAXLA · no longer on the register · serial 2500
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight test · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On November 27, 2008 at 16:46 local time (15:46 UTC), an Airbus A320, equipped with International Aero Engines (IAE) V2500 engines, German registration D-AXLA, serial number 2500, impacted the Mediterranean sea during approach to runway 33 at Perpignan Rivesaltes airport (LFMP) in Perpignan, France. The aircraft impacted the sea approximately 7 kilometers from the coastline and is reportedly submerged 30-40 meters below the surface of the water. The French Navy is currently conducting recovery efforts, which include the use of remotely controlled vehicles (ROV). The Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses pour la Sécurité de l’Aviation civile (BEA) of France is investigating the accident. As the state of design for the IAE V2500 engines, the NTSB will send a U.S. Accredited Representative to assist the BEA with their investigation. An NTSB powerplants specialist and representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and IAE will accompany the U.S. Accredited representative as Technical Advisors. All inquiries concerning this investigation should be directed to the BEA at: Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses pour la Sécurité de l’Aviation civile Bâtiment 153 Aéroport du Bourget 93350 Le Bourget France Website: http://www.bea-fr.org
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.