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Engine failure and river crash in Laos (XW-PBN)

Laos, LaosFlight

On April 7, 1964, a Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer (registration XW-PBN) operated by Bird & Sons was involved in an aviation accident near Laos, Laos in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The simultaneous failure of both engines was caused by fuel starvation. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 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

An aircraft experienced dual engine failure during flight, resulting in a crash into the Mekong River in Laos.

What happened

During a flight over Laos, an aircraft experienced a simultaneous loss of power in both engines. Following the loss of propulsion, the plane descended and impacted the surface of the Mekong River. While the aircraft was lost in the accident, the pilot was successfully recovered from the wreckage. The individual sustained serious injuries during the event.

Findings

Investigations into the accident determined that the primary reason for the dual engine failure was fuel starvation, which prevented the engines from maintaining necessary power during the flight phase.

Probable cause

The simultaneous failure of both engines was caused by fuel starvation.
Fuel exhaustion & starvation

Related events

Same operator

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