Air Vietnam

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

While cruising at an altitude of 11,000 feet en route from Vientiane to Saigon, the crew informed ATC about his position over PE5 on the G67 airway when contact was lost. The airplane spiraled to the ground and crashed in a mountainous area located about 25 km southwest of Pleiku. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 26 occupants have been killed, among them a Swiss citizen in charge of the medical missions of the Red Cross in Vietnam.

Boeing 727-100

En route from Ðà N<U+1EB5>ng 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.

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Shortly after takeoff from Qui Nhon Airport for Ðà N<U+1EB5>ng, a hijacker ordered the crew to divert to Ð<U+1ED3>ng H<U+1EDB>i. The captain stated that a fuel stop was necessary at Ðông 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.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

While approaching Qu<U+1EA3>ng 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 Qu<U+1EA3>ng Ngãi. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 27 occupants were killed.

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

While in cruising altitude on a flight from Saigon to Ðà N<U+1EB5>ng, the four engine aircraft disappeared from radar screens. The crew was unable to send any distress message. The wreckage was found few hours later about 24 km south of Buôn Ma Thu<U+1ED9>t and all 62 occupants have been killed.

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

While approaching Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport on a flight from Vientiane, the pilot informed ATC about technical problems when control was lost. The airplane crashed near B<U+1EBF>n Cát, about 45 km north of Saigon and was destroyed. Three occupants were injured while 10 others were killed.

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Apparently following fuel problems (fuel exhaustion ?), the crew was forced to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed on a beach located in Quy Nhon. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Douglas DC-3

While descending to Huê Airport, the crew was instructed by ATC to divert to Ðà N<U+1EB5>ng Airport due to poor weather conditions. While approaching Ðà N<U+1EB5>ng at low height, the airplane struck a mountain (970 meters high) located near the Cloud Pass, about 17 km north of the airfield. A passenger and three crew members were killed.

Douglas DC-6

While approaching Nha Trang on a flight from Saigon, the pilot informed ATC about an explosion on board and that control was heavy. The hydraulic system failed so the undercarriage must be lowered manually. The captain decided to perform a low pass over the runway to check the landing gear with ATC. That made, the crew completed a nose high and flapless landing shortly later. After touchdown just over the threshold, the crew activated the reverse thrust systems when the airplane became airborne. So the throttles were closed and the aircraft landed again but too far down the runway. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran, struck a concrete pylon and several obstacles before coming to rest in flames in a popular area. Ten passengers and 24 people on the ground were killed. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Following an uneventful flight from Saigon via Pleiku, the crew started the descent to Ðà N<U+1EB5>ng in marginal weather conditions. The visibility was relatively limited due to clouds. On final, the DC-4 was cleared to land on runway 17L. At the same time, the crew of a USAF F4E Phantom II registered 67-0393 was approaching runway 17R when he was contacted by ATC and also cleared to land. The crew of the DC-4 understood this message was dedicated to him so the captain made a turn to the right to join the runway 17R approach path. Doing so in limited visibility, he failed to see the Phantom that was approaching from his right side. Both airplane collided and while the Phantom was able to land, the Skymaster entered a dive and crashed in a huge explosion in a rice paddy field located about three km from the runway threshold. Two passengers were seriously injured while 75 other occupants and two people on the ground were killed. Two other people working in the field were also injured.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Shortly after takeoff from Qu<U+1EA3>ng Ngãi Airport, while climbing, the airplane was shot down by ground fire and crashed 11 km northeast of the airport. A passenger was seriously injured while 38 other occupants were killed. Few hours later, the only survivor died from his injuries.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Air Vietnam DC-3, XV-NID, was on a scheduled domestic flight from Hu<U+1EBF> to Ðà N<U+1EB5>ng. It took off from Hu<U+1EBF> at 1420LT with 3 crew and 24 passengers aboard. The air route from Hu<U+1EBF> to Ðà N<U+1EB5>ng is over the sea and requires alterations of course along the route. After take-off XV-NID headed out to sea and at 1423LT it took the first course at an altitude of about 300 meters (1,000 feet). At 1426LT the aircraft requested and obtained permission from Hu<U+1EBF> ATC to change to the Ðà N<U+1EB5>ng ATC frequency 113.1 Mc/s. Difficulty in establishing radio communications between the aircraft and Ðà N<U+1EB5>ng was experienced up 1436LT. At that time XV-NId requested the weather conditions and the runway in use at Ðà N<U+1EB5>ng. Ðà N<U+1EB5>ng transmitted the information which was acknowledged by the aircraft with the statement that it would call when on the downwind leg of runway 35. Ðà N<U+1EB5>ng then requested the aircraft's position and estimated time of arrival but received no reply. Further attempts to contact XV-NID were unsuccessful. The accident occurred at approximately 1437LT. On 13 November the wreckage of the aircraft was located on a mountain at an elevation of 550 meters (1,800 feet), 19,6 km north northwest of Ðà N<U+1EB5>ng Airport. All 27 occupants have been killed.

Bristol 170 Freighter

The aircraft was performing a special flight from Hanoi to Saigon, carrying refugees leaving the Red River. In-flight, the crew informed ATC about an engine failure and received the permission to divert to Pakse for an emergency landing. The airplane lost height and eventually crashed on the bank of the Sedone River, a tributary of the Mekong River. Three crew members and five passengers were seriously injured while 47 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact.