Fairchild C-123 Provider | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft was on its way back to Saigon after the crew delivered an important load of rice in Phonm Penh. While descending to Saigon Airport, the airplane was shot down by a Strela missile and crashed about 9 km south of Mộc Hóa. All five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider near Tây Ninh

Date & Time: May 13, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

ST-3

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

20192

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route to Saigon on a cargo flight, the airplane was hit by a SAM-7 missile. The captain decided to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in a prairie located 6,5 km south of Tây Ninh. All four crew members were rescued while the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a SAM-7 missile.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-18FA Provider near Kampong Thom

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

64377

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

20261

YOM:

1956

Location:

Kampong Thom

Country:

Cambodia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances on a mountain located in the region of Kampong Thom. The crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in Ban Hong: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

524

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Luang Prabang - Ban Houel

MSN:

20185

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all four crew members.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider near Thakhet: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1973 at 0732 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

374

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Vientiane - Savannakhét

MSN:

20258

YOM:

1956

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

En route from Vientiane to Savannakhét on a cargo flight with 5,4 tons of various goods, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. Two crew members bailed out when the airplane went out of control and crashed. Both pilots were killed. One kicker was killed when he jumped without a parachute while the second kicker parachuted from the aircraft and survived.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in Paksong

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

648

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Pakse - Pakse

MSN:

20097

YOM:

1954

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Pakse on a supply mission, carrying foods and ammunition loaded on 14 pallets. While flying at low height, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. All four crew members decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that crashed in a huge explosion and was destroyed. All four crew members were unhurt.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider near Vang Vieng: 9 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

555

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Vang Vieng - Long Tieng

MSN:

20216

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was on its way from Vang Vieng to Long Tieng, carrying 6,7 tons of various military materials on behalf of the US Air Force. While cruising in marginal weather conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck a mountain at an altitude of 4,850 feet. The wreckage was found 20 feet below the summit and all nine occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in Pleiku: 8 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

ST-2

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Saigon - Pleiku

MSN:

20124

YOM:

1954

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

On approach to Pleiku Airport, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances few km from the airport. All eight occupants were killed.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider near Oudom: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

293

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Udon Thani – Ban Xieng Lom

MSN:

20303

YOM:

1957

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The C-123K transport plane departed Udon Thani RTAFB (UTH), Thailand on a so called Peppergrinder flight, which consisted of loading and dispatching mixed ordnance for use in Laos. Destination was Ban Xieng Lom Airstrip (LS-69). The airplane was loaded with 12,892 pounds of mixed ordnance, including 75 mm shells, 81 mm rounds, 222 caliber small arms ammunition and white phosphorus smoke rounds. Based on the computed crosswinds at 8,500 feet, 293's reported altitude, it was likely that 293 was to the right of his desired track enroute out of Udon Than and at a higher than normal ground speed. The pilot though supposedly well familiar with the route, was likely flying an inadequate cross-wind correction heading in and out of cloud bases. This could have placed him to the right of L-23 and, later, well to the right and beyond LS-62 since no navigational aids were available. A valley, similar to that of LS-62, is present just to the northeast of LS-62 and close to Route 46. Had the captain been to the northeast of his reported position at LS-62 and initiated a descending left turn towards LS-69, the enemy reaction over Route 46 would be immediate and violent. Large anti-aircraft guns were only 15 miles north of LS-62.
Source: ASN

Probable cause:

Although the cause of the disappearance of 293 must be listed as undetermined, the aircraft probably strayed from course and, over exceedingly hostile country, was hit by enemy fire and rapidly destroyed.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in Thiện Ngôn

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

54-0650

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

20099

YOM:

1954

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Upon landing, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames. All four crew members were able to evacuate the cabin before the airplane would be totally destroyed by fire.