Narrative:A forced landing in a rice field had to be made when engines no.1, 2 and 3 failed in succession just 3 minutes after takeoff. The right wing struck a tree and separated just before touchdown. The aircraft slid and caught fire.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: Mechanical failure due to faulty maintenance. The heavy loss of lives was attributed to the fire which erupted, probable panic among the passengers, and insufficient training of cabin attendants.
Classification:
Forced landing outside airport
Sources:
» Air Pictorial 2/66 p.57
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Battambang Airport to Phnom Penh-Pochentong Airport as the crow flies is 245 km (153 miles).
Accident location: Global; accuracy within tens or hundreds of kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.