Country
code

Bangkok City District

Crash of a Boeing 707-366C in Bangkok: 73 killed

Date & Time: Dec 25, 1976 at 0345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SU-AXA
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Rome - Cairo - Bombay - Bangkok - Manila - Tokyo
MSN:
20763/871
YOM:
1973
Flight number:
MS864
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
44
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
73
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Bombay, the crew started the descent to Bangkok-Don Mueang Airport by night. On approach, the pilot reported runway in sight and was cleared to land on runway 21L. On short final, he failed to realize his altitude was too low when the four engine airplane struck the roof of a building and crashed in flames on a spinning factory located 2 km short of runway. The aircraft and several buildings were killed. All 53 occupants on board the B707 were killed as well as 20 people working in the factory. At the time of the accident, the visibility was estimated to be 4 km.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of several errors on part of the flying crew who continued the approach below the minimum safe altitude until impact with ground.

Crash of a Sud-Est Aviation SE-210 Caravelle III in Bangkok

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1969
Operator:
Registration:
HS-TGK
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hong Kong - Bangkok
MSN:
34
YOM:
1960
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
68
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to Bangkok-Don Mueang Airport was completed by the copilot in poor weather conditions (low visibility and heavy rain falls due to tropical storm) when the ILS equipment failed. It was decided to continue the approach and at an altitude of 700 feet, the pilot-in-command was able to locate the runway lights. At this time, the aircraft was slightly too high on the glide and too far to the left. Once the altitude of 300 feet was reached on descent, the IAS was 127 knots, about five knots above the planned speed. Thus, the copilot decided to reduce the speed to 122 knots when the airplane suddenly lost height. The captain elected to regain control but it was too late. With a relative high sink rate, the airplane landed very hard, causing both main landing gear to puncture the wings. The aircraft came to rest after a course of several hundred yards. While all 75 occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Windshear is suspected.

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 Lockheed L-749A-79-33 Constellation in Bangkok

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
PH-TFF
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Amsterdam – Rome – Athens – Cairo – Bahrain – Karachi – Bombay – Bangkok – Kuala Lumpur – Jakarta – Darwin – Sydney
MSN:
2652
YOM:
1950
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
34
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route to Bangkok, about 450 km from the intended destination, the crew informed ATC about vibrations coming from the engine number three. The flight was continued uneventfully until the descent was started. On final approach to runway 21, a propeller blade detached from the engine number three that caught fire and suffered severe vibrations. On touchdown, the right main gear collapsed and the airplane skidded for several yards before coming to rest in flames. All 44 occupants were evacuated safely before the aircraft christened 'Venlo' was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Failure of a propeller blade during flight shortly before landing at Don Mueang Airport. This caused the loss of number three engine and fire to break out in the engine nacelle which could not be extinguished. When landing, the right main landing gear collapsed as a consequence of the fire.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-10-DO Skymaster in Bangkok

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HS-POA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bangkok – Hong Kong
MSN:
18368
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the pilot in command pulled on control column but the aircraft failed to rotate. He decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and started an emergency landing. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the four engine aircraft christened 'Bangkok' overran and came to rest in flames. All occupants were evacuated safely while the airplane was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the total weight of the aircraft was well above the MTOW admissible in the actual circumstances.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK Dakota C.3 in Bangkok

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
FL577
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
11984
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after rotation, while in initial climb, an engine failed. The captain decided to land immediately but the undercarriage were already raised. The aircraft belly landed, overran and came to rest in a marshy field. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Junkers A.50ce in Bangkok

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1932 at 0730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
D-1811
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3519
YOM:
1930
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taking off from Bangkok-Don Mueang Airport, the airplane suffered an engine failure. It stalled, struck the runway surface and came to rest upside down. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and the pilot, sole on board, was slightly injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure upon takeoff.

Crash of a Fokker F7b/3m in Bangkok: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1931 at 0546 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PH-AFO
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Melbourne – Alor Setar – Bangkok – Yangon – Amsterdam
MSN:
5236
YOM:
1930
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft was carrying three passengers, a crew of four and 209 kilos of mail. Two takeoff attempts were rejected because the aircraft was too heavy. In such conditions, the captain decided to start the takeoff roll from a further point at the airport. On the third attempt, after a course of 1,500 metres, the aircraft impacted a dirt bank. The undercarriage were torn off and the airplane crashed. The radio operator was seriously injured and all six other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Thaeke Wiersma, pilot,
Jan van Onlangs, copilot,
G. van Zadelhoff, radio operator,
J. F. W. O. Kotte, mechanic.
Probable cause:
The total weight of the aircraft was too high at the time of the accident, this explain why the airplane was unable to leave the ground. Additionally, it appears that a cockpit panel was improperly secured during the takeoff roll that was completed in heavy rain falls, which was considered as a contributory factor.