What happened
On December 24, 1966, a Canadair CL-44 aircraft operated by Flying Tiger Line was conducting a flight from Tachikawa Air Force Base in Japan to Da Nang Airport in South Vietnam. The mission was performed under a subcontract for the United States Air Force. During the approach phase, the aircraft struck an obstacle, which caused it to lose airspeed and stall. The plane subsequently crashed into the village of Binh Thai.
Investigation
The accident resulted in significant loss of life. All four crew members aboard the aircraft perished in the crash. Additionally, 107 individuals on the ground were killed by the impact. This incident marked the first fatal accident for the CL-44 type and remains its deadliest.
Findings
The primary cause was the loss of control due to stalling after striking an obstacle during the approach. The event highlighted the risks associated with low-altitude operations near populated areas.