What happened
During an approach to Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport, a Lockheed Constellation cargo flight arriving from Manila was involved in a mid-air collision. The aircraft struck a US Air Force McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom, registration 65-0861, which was returning to the same airport after completing a supply mission.
Following the impact, both aircraft lost control and descended toward the ground, eventually crashing approximately 6 km from the runway threshold. The two pilots aboard the RF-4C Phantom managed to eject from their aircraft successfully. However, the collision resulted in seven fatalities, as all occupants on board the Lockheed Constellation perished in the accident.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the primary reason for the accident was that both flight crews failed to maintain adequate visual scanning for other aircraft while approaching Saigon Airport. The investigation also noted that low-light conditions during the approach may have contributed to the lack of situational awareness.