Accident Overview
An aircraft operating a flight to Sam Neua Airport experienced an accident during its descent. The aircraft was approaching the airport in poor weather conditions with limited visibility and was flying in clouds when it struck the slope of a mountain located approximately 12 kilometers from the airport.
Casualties and Damage
The impact resulted in fatalities among the passengers. Eight passengers were killed, and nine other occupants sustained injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged by the collision with the terrain.
Official Findings
The investigation determined the probable cause of the accident to be controlled flight into terrain. The crew descended too low while flying in poor visibility, causing the aircraft to collide with the mountain. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had deviated from the intended approach path by a distance of 4 to 6 kilometers.