Region
Asia

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando near Pha Khao: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
B-136
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
22465
YOM:
1945
Location:
Pha Khao
Bolikhamxai Province
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
On behalf of the CIA, the crew was engaged in a supply dropping mission to the General Vang Pao's Hmong Army. While flying at low height, the pilot-in-command made a sharp turn when a wingtip struck the ground, causing the aircraft to crash. All six occupants were killed, among them three CIA employees, David W. Bevan, Darrell A. Eubanks, and John S. Lewis.
Probable cause:
Error of judgement on part of the pilot-in-command while completing a supply dropping mission at low height.

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 Lisunov LI-2 in Sam Neua

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-51190
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Sam Neua
Houaphan Province
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The landing at Sam Neua-Nathong Airport (the runway is 1,000 meters long and located at an altitude of 1,100 meters) was completed with a tailwind component. After touchdown, the pilot realized he would not be able to stop within the remaining distance so he decided to veer off runway to avoid to crash in a ravine located past the runway end. Doing so, the airplane came to rest in a terrace rice field and was damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries among the occupants.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando near Phônsavan: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
B-130
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
22379
YOM:
1945
Location:
Phônsavan
Xieng Khouang Province
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew encountered elevator control problems and elected to make an emergency landing in the Plain of Jars when the airplane went out of control and crashed near Phônsavan. Two crew members were killed while the third occupant was injured.

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-35-DL in Phônsavan

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
F-BFGN
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
9785
YOM:
1943
Location:
Phônsavan
Xieng Khouang Province
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff for unknown reason. There were no casualties.

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 De Havilland DH.89B Dragon Rapide in Seno

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1954
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
F-BAHY
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6276
YOM:
1935
Location:
Seno
Savannakhét Province
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft hit trees and crashed in a wooded area. All five occupants were injured.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 21E in Pakse: 47 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 170 Freighter
Operator:
Registration:
F-VNAI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Humanitarian
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Hanoi – Saigon
MSN:
12809
YOM:
1946
Location:
Pakse
Champasak Province
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
51
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
47
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a special flight from Hanoi to Saigon, carrying refugees leaving the Red River. In-flight, the crew informed ATC about an engine failure and received the permission to divert to Pakse for an emergency landing. The airplane lost height and eventually crashed on the bank of the Sedone River, a tributary of the Mekong River. Three crew members and five passengers were seriously injured while 47 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-14-FA Flying Boxcar in Ban Sot: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
49-0149
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Hải Phòng - Hải Phòng
MSN:
10386
YOM:
1949
Location:
Ban Sot
Bolikhamxai Province
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew, James B. McGovern Jr. and Wallace A. Buford, were engaged in a supply mission to the French Army Forced in Ðiện Biên Phủ, carrying a load of artillery pieced. Enroute, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire and one of the engine was lost. The crew decided to return to Hải Phòng-Catbi Airport but the aircraft lost height until it struck a ridge and crashed. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.
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