Vientiane - Vientiane

The airplane was engaged in a supply mission out from Vientiane-Wattay Airport, carrying two passengers, two crew and a load of 2,780 pounds of food. While approaching the drop zone and flying below the cloud base, the pilot-in-command initiated a steep turn to the left when the airplane stalled and crashed. A passenger survived while three other occupants were killed. It is believed that the aircraft's speed was too low during the last turn, causing it to stall and to crash.

Flight / Schedule

Vientiane - Vientiane

Registration

N5662

MSN

326

Year of Manufacture

1971

Operator

Air America

Date

July 25, 1972 at 10:50 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Supply

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Crash Location

Tha Tham Bleung Vientiane Province

Region

Asia • Laos

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On July 25, 1972 at 10:50 AM, Vientiane - Vientiane experienced a crash involving De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, operated by Air America, with the event recorded near Tha Tham Bleung Vientiane Province.

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

4 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 75.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 2, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The airplane was engaged in a supply mission out from Vientiane-Wattay Airport, carrying two passengers, two crew and a load of 2,780 pounds of food. While approaching the drop zone and flying below the cloud base, the pilot-in-command initiated a steep turn to the left when the airplane stalled and crashed. A passenger survived while three other occupants were killed. It is believed that the aircraft's speed was too low during the last turn, causing it to stall and to crash.

Aircraft reference details include registration N5662, MSN 326, year of manufacture 1971.

Fatalities

Total

3

Crew

2

Passengers

1

Other

0

Crash Summary

The airplane was engaged in a supply mission out from Vientiane-Wattay Airport, carrying two passengers, two crew and a load of 2,780 pounds of food. While approaching the drop zone and flying below the cloud base, the pilot-in-command initiated a steep turn to the left when the airplane stalled and crashed. A passenger survived while three other occupants were killed. It is believed that the aircraft's speed was too low during the last turn, causing it to stall and to crash.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

2

Passengers On Board

2

Estimated Survivors

1

Fatality Rate

75.0%

Known people on board: 4

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Vientiane - Vientiane

Operator

Air America

Flight Type

Supply

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Region / Country

Asia • Laos

Aircraft Details

Registration

N5662

MSN

326

Year of Manufacture

1971

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