De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Crashed in unknown circumstances while approaching Tapini Airstrip on a supply mission. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were injured.

Crash of a De Havilland C-7B Caribou at Camp Evans AFB: 13 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1968 at 1610 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou

Operator:

Registration:

63-9753

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

213

YOM:

1964

Location:

Camp Evans AFB (Huế)

Thừa Thiên–Huế Province

Country:

Vietnam

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Camp Evans AFB, while climbing to an altitude of 335 meters, the Caribou collided with a USAF Boeing-Vertol CH-47A Chinook registered 66-19041 that was approaching the same airbase with 6 passengers and five crew members on board. The rear rotor of the Chinook struck the cockpit of the Caribou. Following the collision, the Chinook and the Caribou dove into the ground and crashed few hundred yards from the runway end. All 26 occupants were killed in the accident and up to date, this was considered as the worst aerial collision involving USAF in Vietnam. At the time of the accident, the Caribou speed was about 190 km/h while the Chinook was approaching Camp Evans at a speed of 185 km/h.
Caribou crew:
Cpt Wayne Philip Bundy,
1st Lt Ralph Schiavone,
S/Sgt Donald Gene Cleaver,
S/Sgt James Kenneth Connor.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the collision was the consequence of several violations on part of the Chinook crew who was attempting to land on an helipad located 300 meters to the left of the main runway. The following findings were reported:
- The crew failed to contact ground control at Camp Evans AFB prior to its arrival,
- The crew was not authorized to approach Camp Evans AFB at that time,
- The crew failed to respect the maximum altitude of 180 meters fixed for helicopters in that area and was approaching at a too high altitude of 335 meters,
- The crew was approaching Camp Evans from a non assigned approach path for helicopters.

Crash of a De Havilland C-7B Caribou near An Lộc: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1968

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou

Operator:

Registration:

62-4177

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

118

YOM:

1963

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While on an airlift flight near the Cambodian border, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire on its starboard wing. The airplane went out of control and crashed in flames, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
Cpt Robert George Bull,
1st Lt Ralph William Manners,
A1C David Frederick Sleeper.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a De Havilland C-7B Caribou in Pleiku: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1968

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou

Operator:

Registration:

63-9761

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

226

YOM:

1965

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While engaged in a dropping mission, the airplane was flying at low height and reduced speed when it stalled, struck trees and crashed in a wooded area. Two crew members were killed while two others were injured.
Those killed were:
Cpt Kenneth James Hoffman,
A1C Gary Raymond McKendrick.

Probable cause:

Stall caused by too low speed at too low altitude during a dropping mission.

Crash of a De Havilland C-7B Caribou in Đắk Tô

Date & Time: May 29, 1968

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou

Operator:

Registration:

62-4189

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Cam Ranh Bay – Đắk Tô

MSN:

132

YOM:

1963

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Đắk Tô Airfield, the airplane was hit by enemy fire, stalled and crashed in flames short of runway threshold. All 30 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a De Havilland C-7B Caribou in Phù Cát

Date & Time: May 7, 1968

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou

Operator:

Registration:

62-4176

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

117

YOM:

1963

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Phù Cát Airfield, while in initial climb, the crew reported an engine failure when the airplane stalled and crashed few dozen yards from the runway end. All five occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a De Havilland C-7A Caribou in Binh Thuy

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1967

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou

Operator:

Registration:

61-2387

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

YOM:

1962

Location:

Bình Thủy

Cần Thơ City District

Country:

Vietnam

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While on a supply mission in the region of Bình Thủy, the airplane was struck by a mortar shell that hit the fuel tank. The crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a rice paddy field and came to rest. Both crew members were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a De Havilland C-7A Caribou near Qui Nhơn: 26 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1967 at 1430 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou

Operator:

Registration:

62-4175

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Pleiku – Qui Nhơn

MSN:

116

YOM:

1963

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Qui Nhơn Airport on a flight from Pleiku, weather conditions deteriorated and the crew was informed by ATC that the airport was closed to traffic because the visibility was below minima, and was vectored to Nha Trang. The pilot-in-command abandoned the approach, started a go-around procedure and diverted to Nha Trang. Few minutes later, while cruising in a limited visibility due to low clouds, the airplane struck tree tops and crashed on the top of a wooded mountain. As the airplane crashed in an enemy zone, SAR could not reach the site. The wreckage was eventually found few weeks later. All 26 occupants have been killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was poor and the mountain was shrouded in clouds.
Crew:
Maj Thomas Dewey Moore,
Maj William Jerome Clark,
S/Sgt Arturo Delgado-Marin,
S/Sgt Stanley Joseph Yurewicz.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-4A Caribou off An Thới

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1967

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou

Operator:

Registration:

A4-171

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

171

YOM:

1964

Location:

An Thới

Cần Thơ City District

Country:

Vietnam

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching An Thới Airfield, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into a river. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were rescued.