Vietnam | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While in cruising altitude on a cargo flight from Phnom Penh to Hong Kong, the airplane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile and crashed near An Lộc. All five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Boeing 727-121C in Phan Rang: 75 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1974 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 727-100

Operator:

Registration:

XV-NJC

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Đà Nẵng – Saigon – Singapore

MSN:

19819

YOM:

1968

Flight number:

VN706

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Đà Nẵng to Saigon, while cruising at an altitude of 26,000 feet, three guys entered the cockpit and ordered the pilot to divert to Hanoi. The captain tried to explain that this was not possible and that he should perform an intermediate stop at Phan Rang Airport. Shortly later, two hand grenades exploded in the front part of the cabin, causing major damages to the aircraft control systems. While approaching Phan Rang Airport, at a height of 1,000 feet, the airplane entered a nose-down attitude then crashed in a huge explosion in a rice paddy field located few km from the runway threshold. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 75 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The airplane became uncontrollable and crashed following a hijacking situation and the explosion of two hand grenades on board.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K near Mộc Hóa: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

ST-4

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Pnhom Penh - Saigon

MSN:

20304

YOM:

1957

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was on its way back to Saigon after the crew delivered an important load of rice in Phonm Penh. While descending to Saigon Airport, the airplane was shot down by a Strela missile and crashed about 9 km south of Mộc Hóa. All five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider near Tây Ninh

Date & Time: May 13, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

ST-3

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

20192

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route to Saigon on a cargo flight, the airplane was hit by a SAM-7 missile. The captain decided to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in a prairie located 6,5 km south of Tây Ninh. All four crew members were rescued while the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a SAM-7 missile.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24 in Hanoi: 18 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-24

Operator:

Pathet Lao Airlines

Registration:

XW-TCA

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 - Hanoi

MSN:

87304508

YOM:

1968

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was carrying a delegation of 15 Algerian journalists covering the official visit of the Algerian President Houari Boumediene in Vietnam. On approach to Hanoi Airport, the aircraft crashed for unknown reason and was destroyed, killing all 18 occupants.
Passengers:
Saleh Dib,
Abderrahmane Kahwadji,
Mahmoud Midat,
Mustapha Kaboub,
Abdelkader Bouhmia,
Mohamed Bekaï,
Laâredj Boutrif,
Rabah Haned,
Sebti Mouaki (Algerian television),
Ahmed Abdelatif,
Mohamed Taleb (photograph),
Mohamed Sahraoui,
Tayeb Harket,
Djilali Djedar,
Mohamed Attalah (APS).

Ground explosion of a Douglas C-54A-5-DO Skymaster in Huê: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

XV-NUM

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Qui Nhơn – Đà Nẵng

MSN:

7469

YOM:

1944

Location:

Huế

Thừa Thiên–Huế Province

Country:

Vietnam

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Qui Nhơn Airport for Đà Nẵng, a hijacker ordered the crew to divert to Đồng Hới. The captain stated that a fuel stop was necessary at Đông Hà Airport but he flew directly to Huê. When the hijacker realized he was tricked, he detonated explosives in the front part of the cabin. Three passengers were killed while several other occupants were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Partially destroyed by hand grenade after being hijacked.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper in Đà Lạt

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

EM-3

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

11729

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a charter flight on behalf of China Airlines. After touchdown, the pilot-in-command encountered difficulties to decelerate properly and as the end of the runway was approaching, he decided to make a sharp turn to the left when the airplane skidded and struck an embankment before coming to rest. All nine occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK near Quảng Ngãi: 27 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1973 at 0200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

XV-NIE

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Saigon - Quảng Ngãi

MSN:

14910/26355

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Quảng Ngãi Airport by night and marginal weather conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain and crashed about 20 km northwest of Quảng Ngãi. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 27 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew was approaching Quảng Ngãi under VFR mode in IMC conditions.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/C-H2 Turbo Porter in Lam Sơn

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1973 at 1155 LT

Type of aircraft:

Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)

Operator:

Registration:

N392R

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Biên Hòa - Lam Sơn

MSN:

530

YOM:

1961

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was completing a cargo flight from Biên Hòa to Lam Sơn Airfield (V-214). On final approach, he lost control of the airplane that crashed in flames few hundred meters from the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was injured.

Probable cause:

Propeller malfunction on final approach for undetermined reason.

Final Report:

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