Crash of a Grumman C-2A Greyhound into the Mediterranean Sea: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Grumman C-2A Greyhound
Operator:
Registration:
155122
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Naples - USS Independence
MSN:
17
Location:
Mediterranean Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a flight from Naples to the USS Independence cruising in the Mediterranean Sea. En route, the crew reported technical problems and later, the twin engine aircraft crashed into the sea. Eight people were rescued while both pilots were killed when the airplane sank six minutes after it was ditched.
Probable cause:
Unknown technical problems.

Crash of a De Havilland U-1A Otter in Phnom Penh

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1972
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
Operator:
Registration:
0-81717
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
335
YOM:
1960
Location:
Phnom Penh-Pochentong
Phnom Penh
Country:
Cambodia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at Phnom Penh-Pochentong Airport. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Grumman C-1A Trader off Catania: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Grumman C-1A Trader
Operator:
Registration:
146037
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Naples - Sigonella
MSN:
67
YOM:
1957
Location:
Catania
Sicily
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew reported his position to Naples ATC at 1400LT en route to Sigonella NAS near Catania, Sicily. Later, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity when the airplane went out of control and crashed into the Ionian Sea off Catania. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the six crew members was found.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in the Dominican Republic: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Dominican Air Force - Fuerza Aérea Dominicana
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Dajabón - San Isidro
Location:
Dominican Republic
All Dominican Republic
Country:
Dominican Republic
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While on a flight from Dajabón-La Aviación Airfield to the San Isidro AFB located east of Santo Domingo, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the center of the island. All seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland C-7A Caribou off Farallon Islands

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1971
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
Operator:
Registration:
62-4173
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
112
YOM:
1963
Location:
Farallon Islands
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route to McClellan AFB near Sacramento, the crew encountered unknown technical problems. The captain decided to ditch the aircraft near the Farallon Islands, some 30 miles west of San Francisco. All three crew members were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Unknown technical problems.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK in Kargong-Mechuka: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
BJ622
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
14397/25842
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kargong-Mechuka
Jammu and Kashmir
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near the airport of Kargong-Mechuka, killing all five crew members from the 43rd Squadron.

Crash of a Beechcraft U-21A Ute off Đà Nẵng: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft U-21 Ute
Operator:
Registration:
67-18041
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
LM-42
YOM:
1967
Location:
Đà Nẵng
Đà Nẵng City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 35 at Đà Nẵng Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the Đà Nẵng Bay. The wreckage was found near the Island of Hòn Sơn Chà, some 16 km north of the airport. The aircraft was lost and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control due to an explosion and fire on the right engine during initial climb. The reason of the occurrence remains unknown.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Usme: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1971 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-117
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá - Apiay
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, while in initial climb, the crew contacted ATC and declared an emergency. Control was lost and the airplane crashed near Usme, south of Bogotá. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Quy Nhơn: 22 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
South Vietnamese Air Force
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Quy Nhơn
Bình Định Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Circumstances:
On final approach to Qui Nhơn Airport in heavy rain falls, the airplane crashed few km short of runway. A passenger was seriously injured while 22 other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Hawker-Siddeley HS.121 Trident 1E in Öndörkhaan: 9 killed

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Hawker Siddeley HS.121 Trident
Operator:
Registration:
256
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
MSN:
2131
YOM:
1966
Location:
Öndörkhaan
Khentii
Country:
Mongolia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While parked at Qinhuangdao Shanhaiguan Airport, east of Pekin, the three engine aircraft was 'stolen' by nine officers of the Chinese Air Force who apparently wanted to desert. While cruising over Mongolia, the airplane crashed in unclear circumstances near the city of Öndörkhaan. All nine occupants, among them Lin Biao, were killed. It is unclear if the accident was the consequence of a loss of control due to fuel exhaustion or if the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a fighter aircraft.
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