Thai Airways Flight 261

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Thai Airways Flight 261
Summary
Date  December 11, 1998
Type  Disputed
Site  Surat Thani, Thailand
Fatalities  101
Injuries  45
Aircraft
 Aircraft type  Airbus A310-300
Operator  Thai International Airways
Tail number  HS-TIA
Passengers  90
Crew  11
Survivors  45

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 begin 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. 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".

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