Saigon - Nha Trang

On December 22, 1969 at 12:00 AM, Saigon - Nha Trang experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-6, operated by Air Vietnam, with the event recorded near Nha Trang Khánh Hòa Province.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a city crash site.

77 people were known to be on board, 34 fatalities were recorded, 43 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 44.2%.

Crew on board: 7, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 70, passenger fatalities: 10, other fatalities: 24.

The listed crash cause is terrorism act, hijacking, sabotage. 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.

Aircraft reference details include registration B-2005, MSN 44694, year of manufacture 1955.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 12.2158°, 109.2046°.