Loss of aircraft during radio direction finding mission near Saravane

10 fatalities • Salavan, Laos • Flight

An aircraft conducting a radio direction finding mission from Pleiku to Huế was destroyed by enemy fire, resulting in the deaths of all ten crew members.

What happened

During a mission to perform radio direction finding, an aircraft traveling from Pleiku toward Huế was struck by enemy fire. The incident occurred approximately 40 km southeast of Saravane, causing the plane to crash. The wreckage of the aircraft remained undiscovered until October 1969.

All 10 crew members on board were killed in the accident. The flight was part of an ongoing operational mission when it was intercepted by hostile forces.

Findings

Investigations into the loss of the aircraft concluded that the primary reason for the crash was that the plane was shot down by enemy fire during its flight phase.

Probable cause

The aircraft was destroyed by enemy ground fire during its mission.

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1969-02-05 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident near Salavan, Laos?

An aircraft conducting a radio direction finding mission from Pleiku to Huế was destroyed by enemy fire, resulting in the deaths of all ten crew members.

Were there any fatalities in the 1969-02-05 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 10 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1969-02-05 involved a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), registration 45-1133, operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947), at Salavan, Laos.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft was destroyed by enemy ground fire during its mission.

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