Laos | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While cruising at low height on a cargo flight, the airplane was shot down and crashed in flames in a mountainous area. Both crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down.

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

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)

Operator:

Registration:

N180K

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

550

YOM:

1963

Location:

Muang Nham

Xieng Khouang Province

Country:

Laos

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

In unknown circumstances, the single engine airplane collided with a USAF Cessna U-17A (Cessna 185) registered 65-10853 and carrying two people. Both aircraft crashed, killing all six occupants.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B1-H2 Turbo Porter in Laos

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)

Operator:

Registration:

XW-PDJ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

626

YOM:

1966

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While observing a roadwatch team insertion along the 'Ho Chi Minh Trail', the airplane suffered an engine failure. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in a prairie. The aircraft was wrecked and all occupants were rescued and evacuated by the crew of a USAF CH-53. The accident occurred in April 1971 (exact date remains unknown).

Probable cause:

Engine failure for unknown reason.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/A-H2 Turbo Porter near Luang Prabang

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)

Operator:

Registration:

XW-PCO

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

595

YOM:

1965

Location:

Luang Prabang

Louangphabang Province

Country:

Laos

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances on a mountain located near the LS-04 Airfield located in the region of Luang Prabang.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/C-H2 Turbo Porter in Tha Tham Bleung: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)

Operator:

Registration:

XW-PCB

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

567

YOM:

1964

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the single engine airplane went out of control and crashed on the slope of a mountain located south of Tha Tham Bleung. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Boeing S.307B-1 Stratoliner in Luang Prabang

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 307 Stratoliner

Operator:

Registration:

XW-PGR

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

2000

YOM:

1940

Location:

Luang Prabang

Louangphabang Province

Country:

Laos

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Upon landing at Luang Prabang Airport, in unclear circumstances, the left wing struck a Royal Lao Air Force C-47 and was damaged. There were no injuries but the aircraft was not repaired.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-40-DK in Long Tieng

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1970

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Xieng Khouang Air Transport

Registration:

XW-TDC

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

16864/33612

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The approach and landing at Long Tieng Airstrip were completed in heavy rain falls. After touchdown, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Lockheed AC-130A Spectre near Ban Tan Lo: 10 killed

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1970

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

54-1625

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani

MSN:

3012

YOM:

1957

Flight number:

Adlib 1

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While in a commando mission along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. A fire erupted on the left wing root and the crew was unable to extinguish the fire. A crew member (S/Sgt Eugene Fields) was able to bail out and was later recovered uninjured while the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed, killing all 10 other occupants.
Crew:
Maj William Leslie Brooks, †
1st Lt John Cline Towle, †
Lt Col Charlie Brown Davis, †
Lt Col Charles Stoddard Rowley, †
Maj Donald Garth Fisher, †
M/Sgt Robert Newell Ireland, †
S/Sgt Thomas Yuji Adachi, †
S/Sgt Eugene Fields,
S/Sgt Stephen Warren Harris, †
S/Sgt Ronnie Lee Hensley, †
A1C Donald Michael Lint. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.