Air Vietnam DC-3 Crash on Scheduled Flight from Huế to Đà Nẵng (XV-NID)

Flight Details and Timeline Air Vietnam operated a scheduled domestic flight from Huế to Đà Nẵng using a DC-3 with registration XV-NID. The aircraft departed Huế at 1420 local time with three crew members and 24 passengers aboard. The route crossed the sea and required course changes along the way. After takeoff, XV-NID headed out to sea and took its first course at an altitude of about 300 meters (1,000 feet) at 1423 local time. ## Communications and Loss of Contact At 1426 local time, the aircraft requested and received permission from Huế air traffic control to switch to the Đà Nẵng ATC frequency of 113.1 Mc/s. Radio communications between the aircraft and Đà Nẵng were difficult until 1436 local time. At that point, XV-NID requested weather conditions and the runway in use at Đà Nẵng. Đà Nẵng transmitted the information, and the aircraft acknowledged it by saying it would call when on the downwind leg of runway 35. Đà Nẵng then asked for the aircraft’s position and estimated time of arrival, but received no reply. Further attempts to contact XV-NID were unsuccessful. The accident occurred at approximately 1437 local time. ## Wreckage Location and Casualties On 13 November, the wreckage was found on a mountain at an elevation of 550 meters (1,800 feet), 19.6 km north-northwest of Đà Nẵng Airport. All 27 occupants were killed.