Air America | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

En route from Vientiane to Savannakhét on a cargo flight with 5,4 tons of various goods, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. Two crew members bailed out when the airplane went out of control and crashed. Both pilots were killed. One kicker was killed when he jumped without a parachute while the second kicker parachuted from the aircraft and survived.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a De Havilland C-7A Caribou in Salavan: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1972

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou

Operator:

Registration:

401

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Pakse - Pakse

MSN:

YOM:

1962

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While on a supply mission from Pakse and flying at low height, the airplane was struck by ground fire and crashed in flames in the region of Salavan. All four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in Paksong

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

648

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Pakse - Pakse

MSN:

20097

YOM:

1954

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Pakse on a supply mission, carrying foods and ammunition loaded on 14 pallets. While flying at low height, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. All four crew members decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that crashed in a huge explosion and was destroyed. All four crew members were unhurt.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crassh of a Pilatus PC-6/C-H2 Turbo Porter in Ban Vieng

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1972 at 0930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)

Operator:

Registration:

N357F

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Ban Huoeisay - Ban Vieng

MSN:

2015

YOM:

1967

Location:

Ban Vieng

Luang Namtha Province

Country:

Laos

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10000

Captain / Total hours on type:

474.00

Circumstances:

The pilot and his passenger departed Ban Huoeisay (Houei Sai) on a cargo flight to Ban Vieng with rice bags on board. While flying at low height, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a prairie. Both occupants were injured, the pilot seriously.

Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider near Vang Vieng: 9 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

555

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Vang Vieng - Long Tieng

MSN:

20216

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was on its way from Vang Vieng to Long Tieng, carrying 6,7 tons of various military materials on behalf of the US Air Force. While cruising in marginal weather conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck a mountain at an altitude of 4,850 feet. The wreckage was found 20 feet below the summit and all nine occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in Pleiku: 8 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

ST-2

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Saigon - Pleiku

MSN:

20124

YOM:

1954

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Pleiku Airport, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances few km from the airport. All eight occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Tha Tham Bleung: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1972 at 1050 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Operator:

Registration:

N5662

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Vientiane - Vientiane

MSN:

326

YOM:

1971

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

14258

Captain / Total hours on type:

480.00

Circumstances:

The airplane was engaged in a supply mission out from Vientiane-Wattay Airport, carrying two passengers, two crew and a load of 2,780 pounds of food. While approaching the drop zone and flying below the cloud base, the pilot-in-command initiated a steep turn to the left when the airplane stalled and crashed. A passenger survived while three other occupants were killed. It is believed that the aircraft's speed was too low during the last turn, causing it to stall and to crash.

Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando near Pleiku: 32 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

EM-2

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Huế – Pleiku – Buôn Ma Thuột – Saigon

MSN:

30460

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Pleiku Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located few km from the airport. The awreckage was found about 15 meters below the summit and all 32 occupants were killed, among them 6 China Airlines employees (three crew members and three mechanics), 11 US soldiers, 14 South-Vietnam soldiers and one South-Vietnam civilian.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/C-H2 Turbo Porter in Nyot Mo: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1972 at 1223 LT

Type of aircraft:

Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)

Operator:

Registration:

N391R

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Long Tieng – Mường Chà

MSN:

519

YOM:

1961

Location:

Nyot Mo

Louangphabang Province

Country:

Laos

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5563

Captain / Total hours on type:

3500.00

Circumstances:

While cruising over mountainous terrain, the pilot encountered difficulties when the single engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a jungle. The pilot and three passengers were killed while six other passengers were injured.

Final Report:

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/C-H2 Turbo Porter in Ban Xieng Lom: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1972 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)

Operator:

Registration:

N152L

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

554

YOM:

1963

Location:

Ban Xieng Lom

Louangphabang Province

Country:

Laos

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

13687

Captain / Total hours on type:

3216.00

Circumstances:

While completing a low pass over a previous accident site, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in Ban Xieng Lom, about 8 km southeast of Luang Prabang. The pilot was killed while two other occupants were injured.

Final Report: