4 fatalities

Mid-air collision involving single-engine aircraft and USAF Cessna U-17A (N180K)

Muang Nham, LaosFlight

On April 29, 1971, a Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter) (registration N180K) operated by Air America was involved in an aviation accident near Muang Nham, Laos in flight. 4 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A mid-air collision between a single-engine airplane and a United States Air Force Cessna U-17A resulted in the deaths of all six people on board.

What happened

A mid-air collision occurred involving a single-engine aircraft and a Cessna U-17A (Cessna 185) operated by the United States Air Force. The military aircraft, identified by registration 65-10853, was carrying two occupants at the time of the incident. Following the impact between the two planes, both aircraft crashed to the ground.

Findings

The collision resulted in a total of six fatalities, as all individuals on board both aircraft were killed during the accident. The specific circumstances surrounding how the two aircraft encountered one another remain unknown.