What happened
During an approach to Tuy Hòa Airport, the flight crew encountered heavy rainfall and degraded weather conditions. While operating at a low altitude, the aircraft made contact with treetops before entering a stall. This sequence of events led to the crash within a heavily forested area situated roughly 30 km east of the airfield.
Because the wreckage was located within an enemy-controlled zone, immediate rescue efforts were prevented. It took two weeks for the first responders to reach the site of the accident. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe and the deaths of all 85 occupants.
Findings
Investigation into the crash suggests that the ceiling was as low as 50 feet above the ground at the time of the incident. It appears the crew was unaware of their extremely low altitude relative to the terrain. The primary factor in the accident was low visibility caused by poor weather conditions.