Thai Airways International Flight 261

Thai Airways International
Flight 261

Accident summary
Date	11 December 1998
Type	Disputed
Site	Surat Thani, Thailand
Passengers	132
Crew	14
Injuries	45
Fatalities	101
Survivors	45
Aircraft type	Airbus A310-300
Operator	Thai Airways International
Tail number	HS-TIA

Thai Airways International Flight 261 was scheduled passenger flight from Bangkok, Thailand to Surat Thani, Thailand. On 11 December 1998, the ill-fated flight was being operated with an Airbus A310-300, registration HS-TIA.

Thai Flight 261 carrying 146 people on board took off from Don Mueang International Airport at 11:40 UST on a two hour flight to Surat Thani. When the aircraft began to descend to Surat Thani Airport, the weather was bad with heavy rain and poor visibility, and the pilot executed a missed approach two times. On a third attempt to land, the aircraft stalled and crashed two miles southwest of the airport, killing 101 people and injuring 45 people. 90 passengers and 11 crew members died. Probable cause of the crash was determined to be "spatial disorientation when the nose pitched up sharply during a night time approach in stormy weather".

External links

• Accident description at the Aviation Safety Network