ATR72-600 crash, Oct 16, 2013 (49 killed), Pakse
ATR72-600 accident on October 16, 2013 near Pakse, Champasak Province, Laos with 49 fatalities. Cause: The crew failed to properly execute the...
- Date: October 16, 2013
- Aircraft: ATR72-600
- Location: Pakse, Champasak Province, Laos
- Fatalities: 49
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: The crew failed to properly execute the published missed approach after a sudden deterioration in weather, having continued the approach below published minima; misleading flight director indications and limited crew coordination during the go-around contributed.
On 16 October 2013 a new Lao Airlines ATR 72-600 on flight LAO301 from Vientiane was making a second instrument approach to Pakse in poor weather, after a first approach was abandoned for low visibility. During the missed approach the aircraft entered cloud, pitched up steeply and struck the ground about 8 km short of the runway, coming to rest submerged in the Mekong River. All 49 people on board died, making it the worst accident in Laos at the time.