Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 400M in Marambio

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
TC-77
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10416
YOM:
1969
Location:
Marambio
All Antarctica
Country:
Antarctica
Region:
Antarctica
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
112
Aircraft flight cycles:
41
Circumstances:
On landing at marambio Airstrip, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane slid on rough ground and came to rest with its nose severely damaged. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Casa 2.111 off Las Palmas

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Casa 2.111
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Las Palmas-Gando (Gran Canaria)
Canary Islands
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to ditch the aircraft off Las Palmas-Gando Airport. All three occupants were rescued by the crew of a boat while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules near Ban Talan: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
56-0533
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani
MSN:
3141
YOM:
1957
Location:
Ban Talan
Xaignabouli Province
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Ubon Ratchathani Airport on an orbital control flight at 9,000 feet. En route, the airplane was hit by several rounds of 37 mm flak and burst into flames. Out of control, it dove into the ground and crashed in a mountainous and isolated area. SAR operations were abandoned after few weeks as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The remains of the crew were returned from Laos in November 1993 and positively identified in October 1995.
Crew:
Cpt Earl Carlyle Brown,
1st Lt Peter Richard Matthes,
Maj Michael Dimitri Belamonti,
Cpt Richard Owen Ganley,
S/Sgt Charles Richard Fellenz,
S/Sgt Larry Irwin Grewell,
S/Sgt Donald Lee Wright,
Sgt Rexford John DeWispelaere.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Beechcraft U-21A Ute in Qui Nhơn: 10 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft U-21 Ute
Operator:
Registration:
18045
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
LM-46
YOM:
1967
Location:
Quy Nhơn
Bình Định Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances while flying in bad weather conditions. All 10 occupants were killed, among them two Generals, three Colonels and three commanding officers who were conducting an inspection of the South Korean troops engaged in the Vietnam War.

Crash of a Lockheed P-2H Neptune at Whidbey Island NAS

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Operator:
Registration:
140433
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
726-7092
Location:
Whidbey Island NAS (Ault Field)
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances, apparently on approach to Whidbey Island NAS, maybe another airport in the region of Seattle. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-5-DC Skymaster in Alaska: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72611
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Elmendorf – King Salmon
MSN:
10716
YOM:
1945
Location:
Alaska
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft disappeared in unknown circumstances while completing a flight from Elmendorf AFB to King Salmon. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned after few weeks as no trace of the aircraft nor the four crew members was found. The wreckage was located in 1972 in an isolated area.

Crash of a Fairchild AC-119G Flying Boxcar in Saigon: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
52-5907
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
11074
YOM:
1952
Flight number:
Shadow 76
Location:
Saigon
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport, while climbing, an engine failed and caught fire. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in a huge explosion. Six of the 10 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the airplane was carrying a load of ammunitions.
Those killed were:
Lt Col Bernard Richard Knapic,
Maj Moses Lopes Alves,
Maj Jerome James Rice,
Cpt John Hooper V. Hathaway,
S/Sgt Ellsworth Smith Bradford,
S/Sgt Abraham Lincoln Moore.
Probable cause:
Engine failure at takeoff for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in Kien Giang: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Registration:
54-0642
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20091
YOM:
1954
Location:
Kien Giang
An Giang Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Kien Giang, while in initial climb, the airplane banked sharply to the left and crashed, killing all five crew members.
Crew:
Cpt William F. Unckrich,
1st Lt Charles Franklin Burrell,
T/Sgt Harry Clifton Shepard,
S/Sgt Lavoyn Augustus Jones,
A1C Leland Craig Johnson.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules in Chu Lai: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
58-0718
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Saigon – Đà Nẵng
MSN:
3513
YOM:
1959
Location:
Chu Lai
Quảng Nam Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While flying in the vicinity of Chu Lai, the airplane exploded in mid-air and crashed in a field, killing all five crew members.
Crew:
Maj Robert Hayes,
Cpt Bruce Cardy,
1st Lt Wendell Curry,
S/Sgt Isaac Corbett,
S/Sgt Norman Sweat.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the explosion remains unknown but there was strong possibility of the aircraft having been a victim of sabotage.
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