Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-12-FA Provider in Maha Sarakham

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-4513
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
20174
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in an airlift supply mission. Upon landing on a remote airfield, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest and was abandoned. All four crew members were unhurt.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-18-FA Provider in Nakhon Phanom: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1963 at 1815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-4380
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Nakhon Phanom – Udon Thani – Korat – Bangkok
MSN:
20264
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
After taking off from the airfield at Nakhon Phanom the pilot attempted to snare a red flag on top of a flag pole. Apparently, this trick had been attempted before by other C-123 crew based in Thailand. During the second attempt the left wing hit a house and the aircraft crashed killing all three crew and two Thai civilians on the ground. Nakhon Phanom Airfield in north-eastern Thailand, close to the border with Laos, was still under construction when the accident happened. It is possible that the C-123s were bringing in construction equipment or supplies.
Crew (777 TCS, 464 TCW):
1st Lt Raymond E. Doyle,
1st Lt Richard L. Hatlestad,
S/Sgt Stanley E. Truesdale.
Source: Vietnam Air Lossed by Chris Hobson.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.106 Comet 4C on Mt Khao Yai: 26 killed

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1962 at 2244 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SU-AMW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Tokyo – Hong Kong – Bangkok – Bombay – Bahrain – Cairo
MSN:
6464
YOM:
1962
Flight number:
MS869
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Circumstances:
Flight UA869 departed from Hong Kong for Bangkok, an intermediate stop, on a scheduled service to Cairo. Takeoff time was 13:30 UTC. The flight climbed to 31000 ft, the selected cruising altitude. At 15:14 UA869 advised Bangkok ATC that the flight had crossed the Bangkok FIR boundary at 15:08 and passed over Ubol NDB at 15:13 and requested to fly direct from Ubol NDB to Bangkok VOR. This request was granted by Bangkok ATC. At this time UA869 advised Bangkok ATC that the ETA for Bangkok VOR would be 15:47. At 15:27 the flight advised Bangkok ATC that it would be over the 100 mile perimeter at 15:30. After reporting that it was 90 miles out the crew requested descent clearance to a lower altitude. Bangkok control cleared the flight to descend to 4000 ft on the Bangkok VOR radial of 073 degrees and to report when commencing descent from 31000 ft. The flight was instructed to contact Bangkok approach control at 15:39. At 15:35 the flight was cleared to 3000 ft and informed that the altimeter setting was 1007.8 mb. At 15:40 the flight transferred to the Bangkok approach control. Immediately after this UA869 reported to approach control that it was descending from 13000 ft and estimating Bangkok VOR at 15:44. Approach control advised the flight to adjust the altimeter setting to 1007.8 mb and then cleared the flight to cross Bangkok VOR for final approach on runway 21R and report immediately on descending from 3000 ft. This was the last contact with the flight. The Comet flew into the side of Khao Yai Mountain, 52 nm NE of Bangkok.
Probable cause:
The principal cause of the accident was the pilot's action in commencing descent at 1530 hours when the aircraft was 137 miles and not 90 miles from the Bangkok VOR as reported to Bangkok Control, and the aircraft, therefore, collided with a mountain at a point 52 miles distant. It is probable that the pilot-in-command did not actually pass over the point he reported to the Flight Control Units, but only estimated he had passed three points which resulted in grave errors of time and distance in his computations. It is also probable that the pilot-in-command had been too self-confident so that his actions were not according to the fundamental principles of air navigation.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Phon Sawan: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
02
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
In flight, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. The captain decided to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in Phon Sawan. Four crew members were killed while four others were rescued.
Probable cause:
Shut down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer near Doi Tung: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1961
Operator:
Registration:
423
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a supply mission to Kuomintang guerrillas in east Burma. While flying at low height, the four engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Burma Air Force Hawker Sea Fury. Two crew members were able to bail out and were later recovered. Out of control, the Privateer crashed in the jungle located in a mountainous region of Doi Tung. Four other crew members were killed. The Burmese Hawker Sea Fury registered UB-466 was hit by return fire and crashed shorty later, killing its pilot Noel Peters.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Burmese fighter.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-15-DK in Korat: 19 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1956
Operator:
Registration:
L2-14/96
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Korat – Bangkok
MSN:
12667
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff from Korat Airport, killing all 19 occupants.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 on Mt Doi Pha Hom Pok: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 13, 1955
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a border patrol when the airplane struck the Mt Doi Pha Hom Pok located some 25 km from Amphoe Fang. The wreckage was found two weeks later, on 29 May. All seven crew members have been killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL off Hua Hin: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1954
Operator:
Registration:
B-811
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
18947
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a sea supply mission on behalf of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). While flying at low height, the pilot-in-command attempted a turn to the left when the left wing hit the water surface, causing the aircraft to crash into the sea few km off Hua Hin. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Wrong evaluation on part of the flying crew who misjudged the distance with water surface during a low-level supply mission.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK in Bangkok: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1954
Operator:
Registration:
L2-10/96
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
15842/32590
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok, while climbing, the starboard engine failed. The pilot attempted to return for an emergency landing when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located 500 meters from the runway threshold. Four passengers were killed while 14 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after liftoff.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Mae Yen: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HS-SGB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kooyaan – Mae Hong Son
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While flying at low height, the single engine aircraft hit trees and crashed in a jungle located near Mae Yen. As the aircraft failed to arrive in Mae Hong Son, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the six occupants was found. The wreckage was localized by walkers in October 1953 in an isolated area.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the pilot was flying at an insufficient speed which caused the aircraft to stall and to crash. This was probably due to a lack of vigilance and concentration.