Saigon - Savannakhét - Vientiane

While cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet over Laos, the crew contacted ATC and give his ETA in Vientiane at 1422LT. Shortly later, the aircraft disappeared from radar screens without the pilots having been able to transmit all or part of an emergency message and crashed in an isolated area somewhere in Laos. The wreckage was not found and all 23 occupants are presumed dead.

Flight / Schedule

Saigon - Savannakhét - Vientiane

Registration

XW-TDE

MSN

3098

Year of Manufacture

1943

Operator

Royal Air Lao

Date

February 11, 1972 at 01:20 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Crash Location

Laos All Laos

Region

Asia • Laos

Crash Cause

Terrorism act, Hijacking, Sabotage

Narrative Report

On February 11, 1972 at 01:20 PM, Saigon - Savannakhét - Vientiane experienced a crash involving Douglas C-54 Skymaster, operated by Royal Air Lao, with the event recorded near Laos All Laos.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

23 people were known to be on board, 23 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 6, passengers on board: 17, passenger fatalities: 17, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is terrorism act, hijacking, sabotage. While cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet over Laos, the crew contacted ATC and give his ETA in Vientiane at 1422LT. Shortly later, the aircraft disappeared from radar screens without the pilots having been able to transmit all or part of an emergency message and crashed in an isolated area somewhere in Laos. The wreckage was not found and all 23 occupants are presumed dead.

Aircraft reference details include registration XW-TDE, MSN 3098, year of manufacture 1943.

Fatalities

Total

23

Crew

6

Passengers

17

Other

0

Crash Summary

While cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet over Laos, the crew contacted ATC and give his ETA in Vientiane at 1422LT. Shortly later, the aircraft disappeared from radar screens without the pilots having been able to transmit all or part of an emergency message and crashed in an isolated area somewhere in Laos. The wreckage was not found and all 23 occupants are presumed dead.

Cause: Terrorism act, Hijacking, Sabotage

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

6

Passengers On Board

17

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 23

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Saigon - Savannakhét - Vientiane

Operator

Royal Air Lao

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Region / Country

Asia • Laos

Aircraft Details

Registration

XW-TDE

MSN

3098

Year of Manufacture

1943

Similar Plane Crashes

January 15, 1943 at 12:00 AM35 Fatalities

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

The four-engine aircraft was performing a flight from the US to Casablanca via South America (probably Natal), on behalf of the Air Transport Command. The on board delegation was flying to Morocco to take part to a conference. Rumors of a bomb on board caused the crew to divert to Port of Spain. A screwdriver was found in the hatch containing the IFF device but no trace of a bomb. While flying over Suriname, the aircraft exploded in mid-air, disintegrated and crashed in an isolated area located 30 miles northeast of Paramaribo. All 35 occupants were killed, among them Eric Mowbray Night, author and creator of the fictional collie 'Lassie'. He was Major by the US Army Special Services as well. Two identical C-54 planes traveling just 1/2 hour before and after this plane noticed anti-aircraft fire coming from what appeared to be an enemy submarine. Crew (TWA): Benjamin Hart Dally Jr., pilot, Theodore M. Wagner, copilot, Samuel S. Dorrance, flight surgeon, Everett Lee Bacon, copilot, Jason E. Voss, navigator, James M. Kane, navigator, Clyde E. Quisenberry, flight engineer, Leonard La Frank, radio operator, Leo J. Moriarty, radio operator, Eugene A. Dempf, flight purser. Passengers: Maj Eric Mowbray Knight, Cpt Albert L. Seeman, Cpt Basil D. Gallagher, 1st Lt Charles W. Campbell, 1st Lt Peter D. Barnhart, 1st Lt Donald C. Martin, 2nd Lt Carl A. Matteo, 2nd Lt Robert B. Walker, 2nd Lt John T. Girling, 2nd Lt Thomas L. Gallagher, 2nd Lt Max Solomon, F/O Charles S. Shively, S/Sgt Russell A. Baughman, S/Sgt Ellis H. Roberts Jr., S/Sgt Heyward O. Wylie, S/Sgt Roger M. Stoflet, Sgt Oscar Spahr Jr., Sgt Charles S. Roberts Jr., Percy E. Foxworth, Harold D. Haberfeld, William Hodson, James W. Seeger, Charles Howell Brown, Osmon E. Henryson, Morris Lewis. Source: http://www.lassiecomehome.info/id8.html

July 9, 1943 at 01:27 PM3 Fatalities

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

The C-54 was flying in formation with a Lockheed C-40A Electra Junior registered 38-546, so his crew could photograph the dropping of a dummy combat tank from the C-54. After the tank was released, the pilot of the C-40A made a quick turn to the left, striking the C-54 right wingtip. The C-40A entered a spin and crashed near the runway, killing all five crew members. The C-54 continued on for 700 feet, allowing two passengers to bail out. The plane then crashed in a vertical dive, killing three other crewmen. Source: http://www.joebaugher.com/

January 27, 1944 at 12:00 AM1 Fatalities

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason and came to rest in flames. At least one crew member was killed.

March 23, 1944 at 12:00 AM

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Crashed in unknown circumstances in the Anguille Mountains, south of Stephenville. Crew fate unknown.

March 25, 1944 at 12:00 AM6 Fatalities

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

The four engine aircraft was shot down by British fighters because it was approaching a ships convoy. The airplane was carrying dive flap modification kits for P-38's.

April 22, 1944 at 12:00 AM

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Crash in unknown circumstances and was destroyed.