Crash of a Boeing 307 Stratoliner B-1 near Hanoi: 13 killed

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1965 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 307 Stratoliner
Operator:
International Commission for Supervision and Control (ICSC)
Registration:
F-BELV
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Vientiane – Hanoi
MSN:
1996
YOM:
1940
Location:
Hanoi
Hà Nội City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Vientiane-Wattay Airport at 1505LT bound for Hanoi. About 15 minutes later, the crew contacted ATC and gave his ETA at Hanoi for 1644LT. While descending to Hanoi-Gia Lam Airport, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in an isolated area. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended as no trace of the aircraft nor the 13 occupants was found. It is believed the airplane may have been shot down by soldiers based in a zone under North-Vietnam control. All four crew members were French citizens while the nine passengers were employees of the ICSC.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/340-H2 Porter in Vientiane

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
Operator:
Bird & Sons
Registration:
N4227G
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
532
YOM:
1962
Location:
Vientiane
Vientiane (Viengchan) Capital
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed and burned near Vientiane. The pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-16-FA Provider in Xieng Khouang: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Registration:
N5004X
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Vientiane – Xieng Khouang
MSN:
20233
YOM:
1955
Location:
Xieng Khouang
Xieng Khouang Province
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Xieng Khouang Airport, while on a cargo flight from Vientiane, the airplane was hit by ground fire. Projectiles hit the cockpit, the right engine and the right wing. Out of control, the airplane crashed 5,6 km from the runway threshold, killing all three crew members.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing 307 Stratoliner in Saigon

Date & Time: May 22, 1961 at 1148 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 307 Stratoliner
Operator:
Registration:
F-BHHR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Saigon – Vientiane
MSN:
1995
YOM:
1940
Location:
Saigon
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
20251
Captain / Total hours on type:
3000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
15000
Copilot / Total hours on type:
8000
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport, while climbing, the crew informed ground about the failure of the engine n°4 and was cleared to return for a safe landing. At this time, the visibility was estimated between 500 and 1,000 meters. While returning to the airport, the crew was informed about the deterioration of the weather conditions with a visibility reduced to 80 meters and strong winds. In such conditions, the captain decided to attempt a go around when the airplane banked right and crashed near the runway 25 threshold. All 28 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The direct cause seems to derive mainly from the sudden worsening of the atmospheric conditions. The violence of the storm was definitely localized in the approach of the squall and in the squall. Whirling winds, three quarters front and then full crass, were the cause of the displacement of the aircraft to the right in spite of the efforts of the pilot, who felt that No. 3 engine was not yielding it. full power. The subsequent downdraft and rain forced the aircraft down, caused it to lose altitude and brought it to the ground. The reapplication of power, effected at an altitude of approximately 250 to 300 ft, and 25 to 30 seconds from the beginning of the runway, occurred late. In identical weather conditions, if the pilot had re-applied power as soon as he received the QBI and QAM (latest MET observation) he had requested from the tower, the aircraft would have been at an altitude of approximately 560 to 600 ft and one minute and twenty seconds from the runway, at a distance of 4 km. It would have met the squall in higher altitude and speed conditions that would have avoided the aircraft's being brought to the ground. The following factors had an aggravating effect although they were not direct causes of the accident:
- QBI was first announced by the tower while the aircraft was at 1 500 ft in a rear wind. The pilot and the radio operator stated that they did hot hear it at that time. However, a playback of the recorded tape definitely included the voice of the radio operator answering: "Aerodrome is QBI; all right". Had the pilot known of the QBI condition at that time, he would probably have requested a QAM and would have been in a better position to make a prompt decision to reapply power,
- The second report of appearance of smoke, the origin of which could not be detected on board, distracted the attention of the crew from the controls for a fraction of a second, causing them to apprehend danger from the holds. The load was 660 kg heavier than that submitted by the company. The airline should have reweighed the baggage instead of relying on the weights shown on the packages and on the manifest drawn up and filed
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas SC-47D in Phônsavan: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
44-76330
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Vientiane – Saigon
MSN:
15914/32662
YOM:
1945
Location:
Phônsavan
Xieng Khouang Province
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While approaching Phônsavan, the twin engine aircraft was hit by Pathet Lao AAA or small arms fire, lost a wing and crashed 6 km northwest of Phônsavan. Seven crew members were killed and one was taken PoW.
Crew (315th AD):
1st Lt Ralph Wayne Magee, †
1st Lt Oscar Branch Weston, †
2nd Lt Glenn Matteson, †
S/Sgt Algonso Aloyze Bankowski, †
S/Sgt Frederick Thomas Garside, †
S/Sgt Leslie Verne Sampson, †
Maj Lawrence Robert Bailey,
W01 Edgar Wilken Weitkamp. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy action.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter in Vientiane

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 170 Freighter
Operator:
Registration:
F-OAOU
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
13165
YOM:
1954
Location:
Vientiane
Vientiane (Viengchan) Capital
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An engine failed on final approach to Vientiane-Wattay Airport. The pilot-in-command attempted a go around when the airplane stalled and crashed on the runway.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL near Luang Prabang: 29 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
F-BEIA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Vientiane – Luang Prabang – Nam Tha – Muong Sing
MSN:
19211
YOM:
1943
Location:
Luang Prabang
Louangphabang Province
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
29
Circumstances:
While approaching Luang Prabang, the crew encountered heavy rain falls when control was lost. The aircraft crashed in a jungle about 30 km north of Luang Prabang. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 29 occupants have been killed. Leased from Aigle Azur, the aircraft was completing the first commercial flight from Vientiane to Muong Sing for Air Laos.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL Phou Lassi Mountains: 34 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
F-BEST
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Vientiane – Saigon
MSN:
19100
YOM:
1943
Location:
Phou Lassi Mountains
Champasak Province
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
29
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Circumstances:
En route from Vientiane to Saigon, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the Phou Lassi Mountains. As the airplane failed to arrive in Saigon, SAR operations were conducted but the wreckage was found 13 days later only, in an isolated and remote area located about 30 km northwest of Paksé. The aircraft was destroyed and all 34 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident remains unknown. The assumption that the airplane has been shot down was not ruled out as well as an uncontrollable fire on board.
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