What happened
During a combat mission originating from Ubon Ratchathani Airbase, an aircraft was engaged by enemy defenses while traversing the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The flight was tasked with attacking a convoy of trucks when it reached a cruising altitude of 7,800 feet. During this phase of flight, the plane sustained direct hits from 37 mm anti-aircraft artillery.
The incident resulted in a high number of casualties among those on board. Of the sixteen individuals on the aircraft, including twelve passengers and four crew members, 14 fatalities were recorded. While the majority of the occupants perished, two members of the crew managed to exit the aircraft via parachute and reached safety.
Findings
Investigations into the loss of the aircraft concluded that the primary reason for the crash was the impact of enemy anti-aircraft fire during the mission.