Ban Xon - Pha Khao
Flight / Schedule
Ban Xon - Pha Khao
Aircraft
De Havilland DHC-4 CaribouRegistration
393
MSN
51
Year of Manufacture
1962
Operator
Air AmericaDate
February 4, 1972 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Pha Khao Bolikhamxai Province
Region
Asia • Laos
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On February 4, 1972 at 12:00 AM, Ban Xon - Pha Khao experienced a crash involving De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou, operated by Air America, with the event recorded near Pha Khao Bolikhamxai Province.
The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
38 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 37 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 2.6%.
Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 34, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. On final approach to Pha Khao Airstrip (LS-14), obstruction was sighted on the runway and the captain decided to make a go-around. For unknown reason, the left engine failed to respond and the aircraft stalled and struck the runway surface. It bounced heavily, went out of control and veered off runway. It lost its undercarriage and its right wing before coming to rest. All 34 passengers, Laotian military personnel, were evacuated while all a crew member was killed, three other being injured. Crew: Gordon V. Smith, pilot, D. M. Houston, copilot, M. S. Bailey, flight engineer, Khamouth Sousadalay, kicker. †
Aircraft reference details include registration 393, MSN 51, year of manufacture 1962.
Fatalities
Total
1
Crew
1
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
On final approach to Pha Khao Airstrip (LS-14), obstruction was sighted on the runway and the captain decided to make a go-around. For unknown reason, the left engine failed to respond and the aircraft stalled and struck the runway surface. It bounced heavily, went out of control and veered off runway. It lost its undercarriage and its right wing before coming to rest. All 34 passengers, Laotian military personnel, were evacuated while all a crew member was killed, three other being injured. Crew: Gordon V. Smith, pilot, D. M. Houston, copilot, M. S. Bailey, flight engineer, Khamouth Sousadalay, kicker. †
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
4
Passengers On Board
34
Estimated Survivors
37
Fatality Rate
2.6%
Known people on board: 38
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Ban Xon - Pha Khao
Operator
Air AmericaFlight Type
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Asia • Laos
Aircraft Details
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