What happened
On a scheduled special flight operating under contract AID-439-342, a single-engine airplane departed from Long Tieng Airfield at 16:55 local time. The aircraft was en route to Sam Thong when, approximately five minutes after takeoff, it began an unusual and erratic maneuver while climbing. Shortly thereafter, the plane struck a hillside.
The impact of the crash and a subsequent fire caused the total destruction of the aircraft. There were 13 fatalities in the accident, consisting of the pilot and 12 Laotian passengers.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the pilot sustained fatal wounds from a bullet fired from an external source. This injury led to the loss of control of the aircraft during its ascent.