Vientiane – Saigon
Flight / Schedule
Vientiane – Saigon
Aircraft
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)Registration
F-BEST
MSN
19100
Year of Manufacture
1943
Operator
Aigle AzurDate
June 16, 1953 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Phou Lassi Mountains Champasak Province
Region
Asia • Laos
Narrative Report
On June 16, 1953 at 12:00 AM, Vientiane – Saigon experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by Aigle Azur, with the event recorded near Phou Lassi Mountains Champasak Province.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.
34 people were known to be on board, 34 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 5, passengers on board: 29, passenger fatalities: 29, other fatalities: 0.
En route from Vientiane to Saigon, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the Phou Lassi Mountains. As the airplane failed to arrive in Saigon, SAR operations were conducted but the wreckage was found 13 days later only, in an isolated and remote area located about 30 km northwest of Paksé. The aircraft was destroyed and all 34 occupants have been killed.
Aircraft reference details include registration F-BEST, MSN 19100, year of manufacture 1943.
Fatalities
Total
34
Crew
5
Passengers
29
Other
0
Crash Summary
En route from Vientiane to Saigon, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the Phou Lassi Mountains. As the airplane failed to arrive in Saigon, SAR operations were conducted but the wreckage was found 13 days later only, in an isolated and remote area located about 30 km northwest of Paksé. The aircraft was destroyed and all 34 occupants have been killed.
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
5
Passengers On Board
29
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 34
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Vientiane – Saigon
Operator
Aigle AzurFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Asia • Laos
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
United States Army Air Forces - USAAF
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Vichy while on a delivery flight. No casualties.
United States Army Air Forces - USAAF
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Crashed into the Antillean Sea, off Jamaica, in unknown circumstances. Crew fate remains unknown.
United States Army Air Forces - USAAF
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
The crew was performing a personnel transport from Prestwick to RAF Atcham on behalf of the 64th Transport Group. While flying northeast of Denbigh, the pilot encountered cloudy conditions and the visibility was poor. While flying too low, the aircraft hit the north slope of Mt Moel y Gaer located near Bodfari and was destroyed upon impact. A passenger was seriously injured while all 12 other occupants were killed. Crew (64th TG): 1st Lt Charles Edward Williams, pilot, 1st Lt Richard Pazder, navigator, 2nd Lt Theodore F. Furness Jr., 2nd Lt Morris B. Penner. Passengers: Pvt Harry R. Adams, T/Sgt Jonathan B. Akers, T/Sgt Robert E. Anderson, T/Sgt Isreal Gross, T/Sgt Herman A. Hermes, T/Sgt Raymond S. Nash, T/Sgt Jesse L. Patterson, T/Sgt George A. Lesikar.
United States Army Air Forces - USAAF
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Crash on landing in unknown circumstances. No casualties.
United States Army Air Forces - USAAF
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
En route, the aircraft hit the slope of Blue Mountain located west of Blairstown, in the Kittatinny Mountain Range. The wreckage was located 100 feet from the summit, at an altitude of 1,500 feet, and all seven crew members were killed.
United States Army Air Forces - USAAF
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Christened 'The Flying Dutchman', the aircraft was flying from Port Moresby to Pongani on behalf of the 33rd Troop Carrier Squadron's to deliver supplies and troops from the 32nd Infantry Division and the 126th Infantry Regiment. While cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet, the aircraft encountered severe downdrafts, lost altitude and hit the slope of Mt Obree, in the center of PNG. Of the twenty-three aboard, seventeen survived the crash. Many had serious injuries and burns, and died afterwards waiting for help. Eventually, some of the survivors found help and only six survived. The wreckage was rediscovered during an air search mission for a missing Piaggio on March 8, 1961. The airplane has the dual registration VH-CCU and 41-18564. Crew: 2nd Lt George W. Vandervort, pilot, † Cpt Theodore W. Barron, † T/Sgt Stephen J. Pitch, flight engineer, † Sgt George B. Kershner, radio operator. Passengers: Sgt James M. Verstay, † Pvt Vernon R. Moak, † Pvt Charles W. Raddatz, † Pvt Charles I. Stokes, † Pvt Margarito Padilla, † Pvt Carlos D. Failin, † Pfc Gerald M. Grove, † Pfc Frank A. Thomas, Jr., Pvt Duane R. Butler, Sgt Edward K. Holleman, Pvt Floyd L. August, Pvt John W. Mobley, Tec Lawrence E. Peterson, † Pvt John J. Bellus, † Pfc Malvern E. Patton, † Pvt Theodore Romero, † Pfc William L. Smith, † Pvt Martin J. Brandon, † Pvt Antonio T. Montes. †