Thai Airways Flight 261
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| Summary | |
|---|---|
| Date | December 11, 1998 |
| Type | Disputed |
| Site | Surat Thani, Thailand |
| Passengers | 132 |
| Crew | 14 |
| Injuries | 45 |
| Fatalities | 101 |
| Survivors | 45 |
| Aircraft type | Airbus A310-300 |
| Operator | Thai International Airways |
| Tail number | HS-TIA |
Thai Airways Flight 261 was scheduled passenger flight from Bangkok, Thailand to Surat Thani, Thailand. On December 11, 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 (out of 132) and 11 crew members (out of 14) died [1]. 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".
