Military Aircraft Loss in Laos During Ho Chi Minh Trail Mission (69-6571)

Incident Overview and Context A military aircraft was engaged in a mission over the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos when it came under ground fire. The incident occurred while the aircraft was flying at an altitude of 7,500 feet. ## Damage and Emergency Response The aircraft sustained damage from the ground fire, which led to a fire in the right wing. In response to the fire, the captain elected to return to the aircraft's base. ## Egress and Crash All 15 occupants on board bailed out and abandoned the aircraft. Following the evacuation, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed. ## Official Findings The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was that the aircraft was shot down by ground fire.