Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Date: | Tuesday 25 July 1967 |
Type: | Douglas DC-3C |
Operating for: | Véha-Akat |
Leased from: | China Airlines |
Registration: | XW-PDL |
MSN: | 12324 |
First flight: | 1944 |
Total airframe hrs: | 24883 |
Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
Passengers: | Fatalities: 13 / Occupants: 13 |
Total: | Fatalities: 16 / Occupants: 16 |
Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
Location: | 25 km (15.6 mls) SE of Luang Prabang ( Laos)
|
Phase: | En route (ENR) |
Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
Departure airport: | Vientiane-Wattay Airport (VTE/VLVT), Laos |
Destination airport: | Luang Prabang Airport (LPQ/VLLB), Laos |
Narrative:The DC-3 took off from Vientiane at 09:35 h for a flight to Luang Prabang. Bad weather forced the crew to overfly Luang Prabang at 10:35 and enter a holding pattern to wait for better weather
The wreckage was found on 28 October 1967 the mountains of Phou Pha Bon.
The aircraft was later found to have crashed in the mountains.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The aircraft struck a mountain ridge during flight. The probable cause of the accident was a strong downdraft in the area of the peak where, because of the weather conditions, the aircraft encountered an area of extreme turbulence which prevented the pilot from effectively regaining control of the aircraft and regaining height."
Sources:
» ICAO Circular 96-AN/79
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Vientiane-Wattay Airport to Luang Prabang Airport as the crow flies is 215 km (134 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.