Incident
On final approach to Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport, a four-engine cargo aircraft conducting an uneventful flight from Manila collided with a US Air Force McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom (registration 65-0861). The Phantom, crewed by two pilots, was returning to Saigon following a supply mission. After the collision, both aircraft went out of control and crashed approximately 6 kilometers from the runway threshold.
Occupants and Injuries
Both pilots of the Phantom were able to eject safely. All seven occupants on board the cargo aircraft, identified as a Constellation, were killed.
Aircraft Damage
Both aircraft were destroyed in the crash.
Investigation and Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be failure of both crews to pay sufficient attention to potential traffic while on approach to Saigon Airport. The report noted that darkness may have been a contributing factor.