Crash of a Grumman HU-16B Albatross into the China Sea: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1966
Operator:
Registration:
51-7145
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Đà Nẵng - Đà Nẵng
MSN:
G-195
YOM:
1952
Flight number:
Crown Bravo
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off from Đà Nẵng in poor weather for a patrol over the Gulf of Tonkin. Using the call signe Crown Bravo, a name that was assigned to the afternoon patrol of each day, the aircraft encountered worsening weather and failed to make a routine radio report. As soon as the weather cleared enough a second Albatross left Đà Nẵng on a SAR mission. No trace of the aircraft or its crew was ever found. The last known position was about 64 km off Đồng Hới.
Crew:
Maj Ralph Harold Angstadt,
1st Lt John Henry Sotheron Long,
Maj Inzar William Rackley,
T/Sgt Robert Laverne Hill,
S/Sgt Lawrence Clark,
S/Sgt John Reginald Shoneck,
A2C Steven Harold Adams.
Source: Chris Hobson.
Probable cause:
It was suspected that the aircraft was lost due to extreme weather rather than enemy action.

Crash of a Douglas C-117D Skytrain in Đà Nẵng: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
17211
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Đà Nẵng – Saigon
MSN:
13221
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Đà Nẵng Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed past the runway end. Seven crew members were killed were all 24 other occupants were injured, some of them seriously. The airplane was engaged in a troop transport from Đà Nẵng to Saigon. Engine failure is suspected.
Those killed were:
Lt Col David Cleeland,
Maj Clifton Bishop Andrews,
Maj Gerard Martin Kieswetter,
Cpt Jerome Cordell Winters,
Sgt Robert Clayton Morre,
G/Sgt Willis Shepherd Bowman,
Cpl Mickey Ray Grable.

Crash of a Fairchild UC-123B Provider in Tam Kỳ

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-4378
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Chu Lai – Đà Nẵng
MSN:
20262
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising at low height, the airplane was struck by enemy fire. The pilot was able to complete an emergency landing in a rice paddy field and all three crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Sông Mã River: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
64-0511
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Đà Nẵng - Đà Nẵng
MSN:
3995
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew departed Đà Nẵng Airport on a bombing mission over the Thanh Hoa bridge. Following an apparent uneventful mission, it is believed the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Sông Mã River. Nevertheless, no trace of the aircraft nor the eight crew member was ever found.
Crew:
Maj Thomas Franklin Case,
1st Lt Harold Jacob Zook,
Cpt Emmett Raymond McDonald,
Cpt Armon D. Shingledecker,
1st William Rothroc Edmondson,
S/Sgt Bobby Joe Alberton,
AM1C Philip Joseph Stickney,
AM1C Elroy Edwin Harworth.

Crash of a Douglas AC-47D Spooky near A Rơh: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1966
Operator:
Registration:
43-49268
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Đà Nẵng - Đà Nẵng
MSN:
15084/26529
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew departed Đà Nẵng on a reconnaissance mission. Contact was lost few minutes after takeoff but it is believed the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and probably crashed in an isolated area located in the region of A Rơh, near the Laotian border, about 80 km southwest of Đà Nẵng. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.
Crew:
Cpt Howard William Henninger,
Cpt Robert Edward Pasekoff,
Cpt Gerald Everett Olson,
S/Sgt Marshall Irvin Pauley,
S/Sgt Gene Edmond Davis,
T/Sgt Edwin Everton Morgan,
Sgt Dean Arnold Duvall.
Probable cause:
It is believed the aircraft has been shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas AC-47D in the Shau Valley: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1966 at 1300 LT
Operator:
Registration:
44-76290
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Đà Nẵng - Đà Nẵng
MSN:
15874/32622
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
Spooky 70
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed Đà Nẵng Airport on a supply mission to the A Shau Special Forces Camp. While flying at low height, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire. The right engine was on fire and later detached. The pilot-in-command elected to make an emergency landing in the valley. Three crew members were able to evacuate the area while three others were killed by enemy soldiers.
Crew:
Cpt Willard Marioins Collins, †
1st Lt Delbert Ray Peterson, †
1st Lt J. L. Meek,
S/Sgt J. G. Brown,
S/Sgt Robert Eugene Foster, †
S/Sgt J. Turner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas AC-47D Spooky in Ban Salou: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1965 at 1050 LT
Operator:
Registration:
45-1120
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Đà Nẵng - Đà Nẵng
MSN:
17123/34390
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
Spooky 21
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
A few hours before the Christmas bombing halt was due to come into effect, an AC-47 gunship took off from Đà Nẵng for a daylight mission over southern Laos looking for targets of opportunity. When the aircraft was a few miles south of Ban Bac, a mayday call from Spooky 21 was heard by other aircraft in the area but there was no further radio contact with the gunship. Some debris were found in 1995 and some human remains in 2010.
Crew:
Maj Derrell Blackburn Jeffords,
1st Lt Dennis Lee Eilers,
Maj Joseph Christiano,
M/Sgt Larry C. Thornton,
T/Sgt William Kevin Colwell,
S/Sgt Arden Keith Hassenger.
Source: Chris Hobson

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-13-FA Provider in Đà Nẵng

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-4530
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
20191
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Đà Nẵng Airport following a supply mission. On final approach in darkness, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls and high winds when one of the engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed in a minefield located 1,6 km short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven crew members were injured, some of them badly.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on final approach in poor weather conditions.

Crash of a Grumman C-1A Trader in Đà Nẵng

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
146047
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
77
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered technical issues with the right engine and decided to divert to Đà Nẵng Airport. On final, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a cemetery. All seven occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
An unclear technical issue occurred on the right engine and the crew was unable to feather the propeller.

Crash of a Lockheed KC-130F Hercules in Hong Kong: 59 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1965 at 1010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
149802
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hong Kong – Đà Nẵng – Saigon
MSN:
3693
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
65
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
59
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a flight from Hong Kong to Saigon with an intermediate stop in Đà Nẵng, carrying 6 crew members and 65 soldiers on leave. During the takeoff roll on runway 13, at a speed of 150 km/h, the flight engineer reported a loss of pressure on engine number one and instructed the pilot to abandon the takeoff procedure. The copilot, who was in the left seat, reduced engine power when, in the mean time, the captain who was seating in the right seat, started the rotation. In stall condition with an asymmetrical thrust, the airplane climbed to a height of 100 feet then banked left and struck a 2 meters high sea wall with its left wingtip. It flew another 250 meters then crashed into the Kowloon Bay. Both pilots and 10 passengers survived while all 59 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the technical issue on engine number one remains unclear. However, it was reported this engine was changed two weeks prior to the accident but not the propeller. It was determined the accident was the result of a partial loss of power on engine number one associated with a lack of crew coordination. The lack of experience of the copilot and wrong decisions on part of the captain were considered as contributing factors.