Hô Chi Minh – Phnom Penh

On September 3, 1997 at 02:00 PM, Hô Chi Minh – Phnom Penh experienced a crash involving Tupolev TU-134, operated by Vietnam Airlines, with the event recorded near Phnom Penh-Pochentong Phnom Penh.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

66 people were known to be on board, 65 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 98.5%.

Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 6, passengers on board: 60, passenger fatalities: 59, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. On approach to Phnom Penh-Pochentong Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility due to heavy rain falls. Unable to establish a visual contact with the runway, the captain initiated a go-around procedure. Few minutes later, on a second attempt to land, the captain continued the approach below the glide and passed the MDA. The flight engineer, the copilot and ATC as well warned the captain that his altitude was insufficient but he failed to correct the situation when the aircraft struck palms, stalled and crashed in a rice paddy field located 300 metres short of runway. A boy aged one was injured while 65 other occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration VN-A120, MSN 66360, year of manufacture 1984.