Hu<U+1EBF> – Pleiku – Buôn Ma Thu<U+1ED9>t – Saigon

On approach to Pleiku Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located few km from the airport. The awreckage was found about 15 meters below the summit and all 32 occupants were killed, among them 6 China Airlines employees (three crew members and three mechanics), 11 US soldiers, 14 South-Vietnam soldiers and one South-Vietnam civilian.

Flight / Schedule

Hu<U+1EBF> – Pleiku – Buôn Ma Thu<U+1ED9>t – Saigon

Registration

EM-2

MSN

30460

Year of Manufacture

1944

Operator

Air America

Date

June 5, 1972 at 12:00 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Mountains

Crash Location

Pleiku Gia Lai Province

Region

Asia • Vietnam

Coordinates

13.9860°, 108.0074°

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On June 5, 1972 at 12:00 AM, Hu<U+1EBF> – Pleiku – Buôn Ma Thu<U+1ED9>t – Saigon experienced a crash involving Curtiss C-46 Commando, operated by Air America, with the event recorded near Pleiku Gia Lai Province.

The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a mountains crash site.

32 people were known to be on board, 32 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 29, passenger fatalities: 29, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. On approach to Pleiku Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located few km from the airport. The awreckage was found about 15 meters below the summit and all 32 occupants were killed, among them 6 China Airlines employees (three crew members and three mechanics), 11 US soldiers, 14 South-Vietnam soldiers and one South-Vietnam civilian.

Aircraft reference details include registration EM-2, MSN 30460, year of manufacture 1944.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 13.9860°, 108.0074°.

Fatalities

Total

32

Crew

3

Passengers

29

Other

0

Crash Summary

On approach to Pleiku Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located few km from the airport. The awreckage was found about 15 meters below the summit and all 32 occupants were killed, among them 6 China Airlines employees (three crew members and three mechanics), 11 US soldiers, 14 South-Vietnam soldiers and one South-Vietnam civilian.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

3

Passengers On Board

29

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 32

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Hu<U+1EBF> – Pleiku – Buôn Ma Thu<U+1ED9>t – Saigon

Operator

Air America

Flight Type

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Mountains

Region / Country

Asia • Vietnam

Aircraft Details

Registration

EM-2

MSN

30460

Year of Manufacture

1944

Similar Plane Crashes

July 7, 1940 at 12:00 AM4 Fatalities

Air France

Dewoitine D.338

While on a flight from France to southeast Asia, the three engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter. The aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Gulf of Tonkin, killing all four crew members. Crew: Alfred Lacaze, pilot, Jean Assolant, copilot, Francis Pechard, radio navigator, Pierre Valepyn, engineer.

December 31, 1940 at 12:00 PM

Air France

Dewoitine D.338

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Indochina in 1940. No casualties. The exact date remains unknown.

February 24, 1943 at 12:00 AM

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Crew was engaged in a test flight. En route, unknown technical problems forced the crew to divert to Buffalo Airport. On landing, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. While both occupants were injured, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

March 24, 1943 at 12:00 PM4 Fatalities

United States Navy - USN

Curtiss C-46 Commando

On final approach to Bolling AFB, aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion short of runway. All four occupants were killed.

May 7, 1943 at 12:00 AM

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off the Great Inagua Island. Crew fate remains unknown.

May 28, 1943 at 12:00 AM2 Fatalities

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Curtiss C-46 Commando

While overflying Colorado, the aircraft hit the slope of the Black Mountain located some 15 miles west of Guffey. Both pilots, sole on board, were killed. Crew: Cpt Robert E. McIntyre, pilot, 2nd Lt William H. Eisenman Jr., copilot.