Fatal mountain collision near Pak Tha

6 fatalities • Pak Tha, Laos • Flight

An aircraft crashed into a mountainside near Pak Tha during flight in poor weather conditions, resulting in no survivors.

What happened

During a flight through adverse weather, an aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain situated in the vicinity of Pak Tha. At the time of the impact, the crew was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) despite being within Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). The aircraft was flying at a significantly low altitude, which appeared to be an attempt by the pilot to keep the terrain in sight.

Findings

  • The flight was conducted in poor weather conditions.
  • The crew attempted to maintain visual contact with the ground while flying in IMC.
  • The impact resulted in six fatalities among the occupants of the aircraft.

Probable cause

The pilot attempted to maintain visual ground contact while flying under VFR in IMC, leading to a low-altitude mountain collision.

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1963-07-17 Curtiss C-46 Commando accident near Pak Tha, Laos?

An aircraft crashed into a mountainside near Pak Tha during flight in poor weather conditions, resulting in no survivors.

Were there any fatalities in the 1963-07-17 Curtiss C-46 Commando accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 6 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1963-07-17 involved a Curtiss C-46 Commando, registration B-148, operated by Air America, at Pak Tha, Laos.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot attempted to maintain visual ground contact while flying under VFR in IMC, leading to a low-altitude mountain collision.

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