What happened
During a flight originating from Saigon with a stop in Pleiku, a Douglas DC-4 began its descent toward Đà Nẵng under conditions of reduced visibility caused by cloud cover. While the aircraft was cleared for landing on runway 17L, a US Air Force F4E Phantom II, registered 67-0393, was simultaneously cleared to land on the parallel runway 17R.
Upon hearing the air traffic control instructions, the captain of the DC-4 mistakenly believed the clearance was intended for his aircraft. Consequently, the pilot executed a right-hand turn to align with the approach path for runway 17R. Due to the obscured visibility, the crew did not detect the approaching fighter jet on their right side. The two aircraft collided in mid-air.
The F4E Phantom II was able to complete its landing sequence following the impact; however, the DC-4 entered a steep dive and crashed into a nearby rice paddy approximately three kilometers from the runway threshold. The resulting explosion caused massive destruction. The accident resulted in 77 fatalities, including 75 people on board the DC-4 and two individuals on the ground. Additionally, two passengers from the DC-4 sustained serious injuries, and two workers in the field were injured during the crash.