On December 25, 1974, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration XW-PKJ) operated by Lane Xang Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Bannak, Cambodia in flight. 11 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The cause of the crash remains undetermined as the aircraft disappeared under unknown circumstances. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
An aircraft traveling between Battambang and Phnom Penh disappeared under unknown circumstances, leaving no trace of the wreckage or its 11 occupants for several years.
What happened
During a flight originating in Battambang and destined for Phnom Penh, an aircraft vanished while en route. Following the disappearance, search and rescue operations were conducted across the region; however, these efforts were officially terminated after several days when no evidence of the plane or its passengers could be identified.
The 11 occupants of the flight remained missing for a significant period. It was not until years later that pedestrians discovered the wreckage in the vicinity of Bannak. The specific details surrounding the initial disappearance remain unclear due to the lack of immediate information following the event.
Findings
Investigations into the incident were hampered by the fact that the aircraft crashed in an isolated area, and no traces of the flight were found during the primary search window. The wreckage was only recovered long after the initial disappearance occurred.
Probable cause
The cause of the crash remains undetermined as the aircraft disappeared under unknown circumstances.