Crash of an Antonov AN-74TK-300D in Xiang Khouang: 16 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 2014 at 0615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
RDPL-34020
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vientiane – Xieng Khouang
MSN:
470 98 982
YOM:
2007
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
On final approach to Xieng Khouang Airport, the aircraft descended too low, impacted trees and crashed in a dense wooded area located some 1,500 metres short of runway, bursting into flames. 14 occupants were killed while 3 others were injured, among them a nurse. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. A day later, two survivors died from their injuries and the nurse was the only survivor. Among the passengers were members of the Laotian Government flying to Xieng Khouang to attend a celebration of the creation of the 2nd Division of the Laotian Army. Among the passengers were the Laotian Ministry of Defense and Vice-Prime Minister Mr. Douangchay Phichit, the Secretary of the National Party Mr. Cheuang Sombounkhanh, the Mayor of Vientiane Mr. Soukanh Mahalath and the Laotian Ministry of Public Safety Mr. Thongbanh Sengaphone. For unknown reason, the crew was approaching the airport at a too low altitude.

Crash of an ATR72-600 off Pakse: 49 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 2013 at 1555 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RDPL-34233
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Vientiane - Pakse
MSN:
1071
YOM:
2013
Flight number:
LAO301
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
44
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
49
Captain / Total flying hours:
5600
Captain / Total hours on type:
3200.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
400
Aircraft flight hours:
758
Circumstances:
A first approach procedure to runway 15 was aborted by the crew due to insufficient visibility. On the circuit to complete a second approach in bad weather conditions, the ATR72-600 crashed some 8 km short of runway and was completely submerged in the Mekong River. None of the 49 occupants (44 pax and 5 crew) survived, among them 7 French citizens and 6 Australians. Aircraft left Vientiane at 1445LT and should arrive in Pakse one hour later. Aircraft was built and delivered to Lao Airlines in March this year. First crash involving an ATR72-600 series. Up to date, worst accident in Laos.
The Laotian Authorities released the following key sentences of analysis:
"Under IMC conditions, with no reference to the ground, the SOPs lead to conducting an instrument approach. In Pakse the VOR DME approach procedure is in force. There is no radar service. The flight crew has to fly to the initial approach fix or the intermediate fix at an altitude above 4600ft, then start the descent to 2300ft until final approach fix. Finally the flight crew descends to the minima (990ft), if visual references with the ground are available and sufficient the flight crew may continue until touchdown. If ground visual references are not available or not sufficient, the flight crew may level off up to the missed approach point and then must start the missed approach procedure. From the FOR data, the flight crew set 600 ft as the minima. This is contrary to the published minima of 990 ft. Even if the flight crew had used the incorrect height as published in the JEPPESEN Chart at that time the minima should have been set to 645 ft or above. The choice of minima lower than the published minima considerably reduces the safety margins. Following the chart would lead the flight crew to fly on a parallel path 345 ft lower than the desired indicated altitude. The recordings show that the flight crew initiated a right turn according to the lateral missed approach trajectory without succeeding in reaching the vertical trajectory. Specifically, the flight crew didn't follow the vertical profile of missed approach as the missed approach altitude was set at 600 ft and the aircraft system went into altitude capture mode. When the flight crew realized that the altitude was too close to the ground, the PF over-reacted, which led to a high pitch attitude of 33°. The aircraft was mostly flying in the clouds during the last part of flight."
Probable cause:
The probable cause of this accident were the sudden change of weather condition and the flight crew's failure to properly execute the published instrument approach, including the published missed approach procedure, which resulted in the aircraft impacting the terrain.
The following factors may have contributed to the accident:
- The flight crew's decision to continue the approach below the published minima
- The flight crew's selection of an altitude in the ALT SEL window below the minima, which led to misleading FD horizontal bar readings during the go-around
- Possible Somatogravic illusions suffered by the PF
- The automatic reappearance of the FD crossbars consistent with the operating logic of the aeroplane systems, but inappropriate for the go-around
- The inadequate monitoring of primary flight parameters during the go-around, which may have been worsened by the PM's attention all tunneling on the management of the aircraft flap configuration
- The flight crew's limited coordination that led to a mismatch of action plans between the PF and the PM during the final approach.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Sam Neua

Date & Time: Apr 17, 2013 at 1435 LT
Operator:
Registration:
RDPL-34180
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sam Neua – Vientiane
MSN:
231
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
LOA201
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Sam Neua-Nathong Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft collided with trees, lots height and crashed in a small river located 200 metres past the runway end. All 18 occupants were injured, five seriously. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Harbin Yunsunji Y-12 II in Sam Neua

Date & Time: Feb 14, 2002 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RDPL-34118
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sam Neua - Vientiane
MSN:
0043
YOM:
1991
Flight number:
QV702
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, while climbing to a height of about two metres, the twin engine aircraft encountered downdraft. It struck the runway surface, went out of control and veered off runway. It then collided with a fence and came to rest on a road located 17 metres below. All 15 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. At the time of the accident, the wind was blowing at 8 knots but apparently changed rapidly and became stronger shortly after rotation.

Crash of a Harbin Yunsunji Y-12 II in Sam Neua: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 2000 at 1212 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RDPL-34130
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Vientiane – Sam Neua
MSN:
0086
YOM:
1994
Flight number:
QV703
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While descending to Sam Neua Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility. Approaching in clouds, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 12 km from the airport. Eight passengers were killed while nine other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew descended too low in poor visibility. At the time of the accident, the aircraft deviated from the approach path from 4 to 6 km.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 near Long Tieng: 26 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1998 at 1020 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RDPL-34001
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Vientiane – Xieng Khouang – Hanoi
MSN:
9 43 18 35
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Circumstances:
The aircraft was chartered by the Lao Air Force to carry a delegation from the Vietnam Air Force who took part to a military conference in Vientiane. On board were high ranking officers from the Vietnam Army Forces, among them General Đào Trọng Lịch. On the leg from Vientiane to Xieng Khouang, while cruising at an altitude of 6,000 feet in reduced visibility due to heavy rain falls, the aircraft struck tree tops and crashed on the slope of a mountain located near Long Tieng. The wreckage was found in a wooded area at an altitude of 1,800 metres. All 26 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew initiated the descent to Xieng Khouang prematurely. Poor visibility due to heavy rain falls was a contributing factor.

Crash of a Harbin Yunsunji Y-12-II near Phônsavan: 18 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1993 at 0920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RDPL-34117
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Vientiane – Phônsavan
MSN:
0042
YOM:
1991
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
While descending to Phônsavan Airport, the crew encountered below minima weather conditions due to fog. On approach, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft struck trees and crashed in a hilly and wooded terrain located 28 km from the airport, bursting into flames. All 18 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew decided to continue the approach below the minimum safe altitude in below minima weather conditions.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Ban Mai

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RDPL-34037
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hanoi - Vientiane
MSN:
2506
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
68
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a flight from Hanoi to Vientiane, carrying 62 girl students and six accompanents coming back from Soviet Union. On approach to Vientiane-Wattay Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility due to thunderstorm activity. The captain completed several circuits in the area but was unable to locate the airport. As the airplane was short of fuel, the crew decided to attempt a belly landing in an open field located in Ban Mai, about 10 km west of Wattay Airport. All 74 occupants were evacuated while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Vickers 806 Viscount in Phnom Penh: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XW-TDN
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Phnom Penh - Vientiane
MSN:
396
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff from Phnom Penh-Pochentong Airport for unknown reason. All four crew members were killed. The accident occurred in March 1975, exact date unknown.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Laos

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XW-PMF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hong Kong – Vientiane
MSN:
22561
YOM:
1945
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Laos while completing a cargo flight from Hong Kong to Vientiane. Both crew members were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The exact circumstances of the mishap remains unclear.