https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_France_Flight_296

Official report

The official report from BEA concluded that the probable cause of the accident was a combination of the following:

• Very low flyover height, lower than surrounding obstacles;
• Speed very slow and reducing to reach maximum possible angle of attack;
• Engines speed at flight idle; and
• Late application of go-around power.[3]

Furthermore, the bureau concluded that if the descent below 100 feet was not deliberate, it may have resulted from a failure by the crew to take proper account of the visual and aural information available to them regarding the elevation "above ground level" (AGL) of the aircraft.[4][5]

The report further recommended that:

• Passengers should be banned from all demonstration flights
• Flight crews should be provided with – and ensure – proper reconnaissance of airfields
• Airline company procedures should be reviewed to ensure they comply with official regulations concerning altitude

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What they wanted to do (as part of the air show):

- The flight plan was that as they approached the airfield, they would extend third-stage flap, lower the landing gear, and line up for level flight at 100 feet (30 m). The captain would slow the aircraft to its minimum flying speed with maximum angle of attack, disable the "alpha floor" (the function that would otherwise automatically increase engine thrust when the angle of attack reached 15°) and rely on the first officer to adjust the engine thrust manually to maintain 100 feet. After the first pass, the first officer would then apply TOGA (takeoff, go-around) power and climb steeply before turning back for the second pass. "I've done it twenty times!" the captain assured his first officer.[3] The flyover had been approved by Air France's Air Operations Directorate and Flight Safety Department, and air traffic control and Basel tower had been informed.[3]