What happened
A military transport mission intended to move a delegation from the Vietnam Air Force to a conference in Vientiane ended in a fatal accident. The aircraft, operating under charter for the Lao Air Force, was traveling from Vientiane toward its destination of Xieng Khouang. During the flight, while maintaining an altitude of approximately 6,000 feet, the plane encountered heavy rainfall which significantly limited visibility.
While navigating through these weather conditions, the aircraft made contact with treetops and subsequently crashed onto a mountain slope in the vicinity of Long Tieng. Search efforts located the wreckage within a forested region at an elevation of 1,800 meters. The accident resulted in 26 fatalities, with no survivors reported among the occupants.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the crash was the result of controlled flight into terrain. This occurred because the crew began their descent toward Xieng Khouang earlier than intended. The presence of heavy rain, which reduced visibility during the approach, served as a contributing factor to the impact with the terrain.