No fatalities

Aircraft crash during final approach short of runway (HS-TDE)

Mae Hong Son, ThailandLanding (descent or approach)

On May 7, 1971, a Douglas DC-3 (registration HS-TDE) operated by Thai Airways International was involved in an aviation accident near Mae Hong Son, Thailand during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft was flying too low during the final approach phase. 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 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered HS-TDE
Aircraft registered HS-TDE. Photo: Lerdsuwa / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

An aircraft crashed short of the runway during its final approach, resulting in no injuries but significant damage to the airframe.

What happened

During the final approach phase of flight, an aircraft descended below the required altitude and struck the ground before reaching the runway. The impact occurred at a location short of the landing strip under circumstances that remain under investigation.

Following the impact, all 21 occupants successfully exited the cabin. Despite the intensity of the event, there were zero injuries reported among those on board. However, the structural damage sustained by the aircraft was severe enough to render it a total loss, as the airframe was deemed beyond repair.

Findings

Initial observations indicate that the aircraft was flying at an insufficient altitude during its approach to the runway.

Probable cause

The aircraft was flying too low during the final approach phase.