No fatalities

Aircraft Diverted to Surat Thani After Left Engine Failure (L2-48/18)

Surat Thani, ThailandLanding (descent or approach)

On March 15, 1978, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration L2-48/18) operated by Royal Thai Air Force - Kong Thap Akat Thai was involved in an aviation accident near Surat Thani, Thailand during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the left engine in flight for unknown reasons. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft diverted to Surat Thani Airport after a left engine failure. It veered off the runway on landing, resulting in minor injuries for all 10 occupants and the aircraft being written off.

Incident Overview During an en route flight, the aircraft experienced a failure of its left engine. The flight crew received clearance to divert to Surat Thani Airport to conduct an emergency landing. ## Landing and Aftermath Upon touchdown at the destination, the aircraft went out of control and veered off the runway before coming to a stop. All 10 occupants on board escaped the incident with minor injuries. The aircraft was subsequently declared a write-off. ## Official Findings The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was the failure of the left engine in flight for unknown reasons.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 15 Mar 1978 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident near Surat Thani, Thailand?

An aircraft diverted to Surat Thani Airport after a left engine failure. It veered off the runway on landing, resulting in minor injuries for all 10 occupants and the aircraft being written off.

Were there any fatalities in the 15 Mar 1978 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 15 Mar 1978 involved a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), registration L2-48/18, operated by Royal Thai Air Force - Kong Thap Akat Thai, at Surat Thani, Thailand.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Failure of the left engine in flight for unknown reasons.