Cessna 208 accident near Vientiane, Laos, La, April 11, 2009
On April 11, 2009 at about 10:35 am local time, a Cessna 208, registered RDPL34144, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Vientiane, Laos. It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. No one was hurt; 13 people were on board or involved.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 2009 · about 10:35 am local time
- Place
- Vientiane, Laos, Laos
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 13 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Cessna 208 B · all 208s on the register
- Registration
- RDPL34144 · no longer on the register · serial 208B0967
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 11, 2009, about 1035 coordinated universal time (UTC), a Cessna 208B, Laos registration RDPL-34144, owned by Helicopters of New Zealand, operated by Lao Air, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Vientiane, Laos. The two pilots and 11 passengers were not injured. Laos investigators reported that during takeoff initial climb the flight crew heard a loud bang and hissing noise from the engine followed by a loss of engine power. The pilot in command observed the engine had shut itself down and the propeller was in the feathered position immediately after the loss of power. The pilot altered course back towards the airport, and was unsuccessful at restarting the engine. Unable to make it back to the airport, the pilot prepared for an off field landing. During landing the airplane bounced twice before coming to rest. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Laos. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Government of Laos. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Ministry of Public Works and Transport Department of Civil Aviation Wattay International Airport, P.O. Box 119 Vientiane Lao PDR Telephone/Fax: 512163
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing defining event
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 8,750 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney PT6-114A; 0 hours total
- Operator: Lao Air
The flight
- Departed from: Vientiane, Laos
- Destination: VLSN Samneua, Laos
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 11 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.