Incident Overview

Date: Monday 25 December 1967
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47A-DL (DC-3)
Owner/operator: Thai Airways
Registration Number: HS-TDH
Location: Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) – ÿ Thailand
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 31
Component Affected: No specific component is identified, as the incident involved a change in approach and subsequent instability.No specific component is identified, as the incident involved a change in approach and subsequent instability.
Category: Accident
Narrative
A passenger flight TH002, departing Chiang Mai later that day, experienced a significant incident involving a changed engine and a runway test. The pilot initially requested a runway 18 approach, but due to deteriorating weather conditions (low visibility of 100 m), he deviated to the third road, which led him to a fuel storage area instead of the runway. The aircraft subsequently lost altitude and became unstable, resulting in engine damage at the apex of a longan plantation.A passenger flight TH002, departing Chiang Mai later that day, experienced a significant incident involving a changed engine and a runway test. The pilot initially requested a runway 18 approach, but due to deteriorating weather conditions (low visibility of 100 m), he deviated to the third road, which led him to a fuel storage area instead of the runway. The aircraft subsequently lost altitude and became unstable, resulting in engine damage at the apex of a longan plantation.

Description

Before the flight the no. 2 engine was changed and a 23 min. flight test was carried out. The plane took off for Chiang Mai later that day on passenger flight TH002. Weather at the destination was not too good: 100 m visibility. The crew elected to overfly runway 36 first, before trying to land. After passing the control tower at 13:46, the pilot requested a runway 18 approach instead of runway 36. The pilot intended to make a visual approach along the middle of 3 diverging roads, which was aligned with the runway. Because of the fog, the pilot began his approach along the third road, which extended to the Royal Thai Air Force fuel storage instead of runway 18. When the aircraft came close to the ground the pilot realized that he was approaching the wrong road. He tried to initiate a go around, but the aircraft became unstable as he raised the nose, and slipped to the left. The no. 1 engine hit the apex of the mound in the longan plantation, 200 m from the airport.

Primary Cause

Pilot deviation from planned approach and landing due to adverse weather conditions.Pilot deviation from planned approach and landing due to adverse weather conditions.

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