Vietnam Airlines Accidents and Incidents - Fatal Incidents

Fatal Incidents

• 3 September 1997: Vietnam Airlines Flight 815, a Tupolev Tu-134 (built in 1984), registration VN-A120, crashed on approach to Phnom Penh's Pochentong Airport, killing 65 of the 66 passengers on board. The aircraft was entirely destroyed. The aircraft was flying from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh. The Tupolev was approaching the Phnom Penh airport runway in heavy rain from 2,000 meters; at this point the control tower ordered the pilot to attempt an approach from the west due to a wind pick-up. The crew then lost communication with the tower, and three minutes later the aircraft collided at low level with trees, damaging the left wing. The aircraft then slid 200 yards into a dry rice paddy before exploding. Pilot error was later identified as the cause of the crash; the pilot continued his landing descent from an altitude of 2,000 meters to 30 meters even though the runway was not in sight, and ignored pleas from his first officer and flight engineer to turn back. When the aircraft hit the trees, the pilot finally realized the runway was not in sight and tried to abort the approach; the flight engineer pushed for full power, but the aircraft lost control and veered left; the right engine then stalled, making it impossible to gain lift.
• 14 November 1992: Flight VN474, a Yakovlev Yak-40 (built in 1976), registration VN-A449, originating in Ho Chi Minh City with 31 passengers on board crashed while approaching the Nha Trang Airport in a tropical storm. There were 30 deaths; the only survivor was a Dutch woman, Annette Herfkens. The aircraft was entirely destroyed.
• 9 September 1988: Flight VN831, a Tupolev Tu-134 (built in 1978), registration VN-A102, departed from Hanoi with 81 passengers aboard and crashed while on approach to Bangkok. There were 76 fatalities and the aircraft was entirely destroyed. The aircraft apparently flew into a heavy thunderstorm and was struck by lightning. The aircraft then exploded after it crashed into a field 4 mi/6 km short of Don Mueang International Airport.