Fatal aircraft accident during cloud-seeding mission in Chanthaburi

4 fatalities • Chanthaburi, Thailand • Takeoff (climb)

A single-engine aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Chanthaburi Airport during a cloud-seeding operation, resulting in four fatalities.

What happened

During a scheduled cloud-seeding mission, an aircraft departed from Chanthaburi Airport carrying a pilot and four passengers. The flight was in its initial climb phase immediately following takeoff when the aircraft experienced a sudden engine failure.

Following the loss of power, the aircraft entered a stall condition and descended into the ground. The impact caused the aircraft to catch fire upon crashing. The accident resulted in four fatalities among the occupants, while one passenger sustained serious injuries.

Findings

  • The primary factor in the accident was the engine failure occurring during the climb phase.
  • The loss of propulsion led directly to an aerodynamic stall and subsequent impact.

Probable cause

The engine failed during the climb phase, leading to an aerodynamic stall and crash.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2006-03-29 Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter) accident near Chanthaburi, Thailand?

A single-engine aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Chanthaburi Airport during a cloud-seeding operation, resulting in four fatalities.

Were there any fatalities in the 2006-03-29 Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter) accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 4 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2006-03-29 involved a Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter), registration 1312, operated by KASET - Bureau of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation, at Chanthaburi, Thailand.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The engine failed during the climb phase, leading to an aerodynamic stall and crash.

Loading the flight search…

What you can do on Flight Finder

  • Search flights between any two airports with live fares.
  • By aircraft — pick a plane model (e.g. Boeing 787, Airbus A350) and see every route it flies from your origin.
  • Route map — click any airport worldwide to explore its destinations, or draw a radius to find nearby airports.
  • Global aviation safety — aviation accident database, 40,000+ records since 1980, with map and rankings by aircraft and operator.
  • NTSB safety feed — recent U.S. aviation accidents and incidents from the official NTSB CAROL database, updated daily.