62 fatalities

1973-03-19: Douglas C-54 Skymaster (XV-NUI) — Air Vietnam — Buôn Ma Thuột, Vietnam

Buôn Ma Thuột, VietnamFlight

On March 19, 1973, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (registration XV-NUI) operated by Air Vietnam was involved in an aviation accident near Buôn Ma Thuột, Vietnam in flight. 62 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. An explosion from an unknown origin occurred in the cargo hold, between both wings, causing a brutal decompression of the cabin and the explosion of the airplane. 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)Primary reportUpdated 1781232927Data APIEditorial standards

A four-engine aircraft on a flight from Saigon to Đà Nẵng disappeared from radar. Wreckage was found 24 km south of Buôn Ma Thuột; all 62 occupants were killed.

Incident

A four-engine aircraft operating a flight from Saigon to Đà Nẵng disappeared from radar screens while at cruising altitude. The crew did not send any distress message.

Wreckage

Wreckage was located a few hours after the disappearance, approximately 24 km south of Buôn Ma Thuột. All 62 occupants on board were killed in the crash.

Investigation

Investigators determined that an explosion of unknown origin occurred in the cargo hold between both wings. This explosion caused a violent decompression of the cabin, leading to the destruction of the aircraft. The possibility of an explosive device causing the detonation was not ruled out.

Probable Cause

The official finding states that the exact cause of the accident could not be determined. The explosion originated in the cargo hold, but its source remains unknown.