Crash of a Lockheed C-130 Hercules in Agana: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
64-0505
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Agana - Agana
MSN:
3989
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a local training flight at Agana Airport, carrying five crew members and three passengers (two Army officers and one Pan Am flight attendant). On final approach, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames short of runway threshold. It was destroyed by a post crash fire and five occupants were killed while three others were injured. It was reported that one of the engine was not running on final, probably to simulate a failure.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules near Myrtle Beach: 12 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
64-0558
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
4059
YOM:
1965
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The Hercules was engaged in a local training flight and was supposed, as a target, to be intercepted by the pilot of a USAF Convair F-102A Delta Dagger registered 56-1517. In unclear circumstances, both aircraft collided, dove into the ground and crashed, killing all 13 occupants. It is believed the collision was the consequence of poor judgement and lack of coordination between both crews.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130K Hercules in Tromsö

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XV194
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wittering - Tromsø
MSN:
4214
YOM:
1967
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a flight from RAF Wittering to Tromsø, carrying a Harrier load. After touchdown on a runway covered with slush, the airplane deviated to the left. The Aircraft Captain, without saying 'he had control' feathered the two starboard engines. The co-pilot, believing he was still in control, applied right rudder and brakes. Instead of a gentle correction to the centreline, the aircraft swung hard right and left the runway. As it crossed over the 'monnie' drain the cockpit area of the fuselage broke off by the crew door, coming to rest at an angle to the main fuselage, the tail also broke off. At this stage the crew 'legged it' through the flight deck windows leaving everything still switched on and live! The passenger had trapped his hand on the 'towel rail' when it folded under the impact, the navigator gave him a 'whack' which loosened his hand but broke his fingers.On hitting the ground outside the aircraft, the ALM had a heart attack (non-fatal). The main fuselage was covered in dirt which had entered through the break and if the ALM and pax had been sitting there they would have been killed. The Load remained 'nailed to the floor' and not one bottle was broken!
Crew:
F/Lt Charles Collier,
F/O Brian Clucas,
F/S Taff Thomas,
F/S Tony ‘Chomper’ Lamb,
Sgt Ivan Gervais,
Sgt Merv Corke,
Cpl Keith Simmonds,
Cpl Tom Blues,
SAC Bob Ford,
SAC Bob Thacker,
SAC Keri Eynon,
SAC Fred Kitts.
Source: http://ukmamsoba.org/obb022318_light.html
Probable cause:
At the Board of Enquiry everyone, apart from the Navigator, was found guilty of negligence, both pilots for lack of coordination, the engineer for leaving the frame live and the ALM for not being at his correct position for landing.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Sóc Trăng: 30 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1972 at 0400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-1853
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3817
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
30
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Sóc Trăng, while climbing to a height of 500 feet, the airplane was hit by small arms, went out of control and crashed in a field. Seven crew members and 23 passengers (US and South-Vietnamese soldiers) were killed. Fourteen other occupants were injured.
Crew killed were:
Maj Jerry Duane Vance,
Cpt Terry Kohler,
Maj James Wesley Fulk,
Cpt Merrill Howard Masin,
Cpt Charles Price Roberts,
Cpt Timmie Joe Ward,
M/Sgt Ray Edwin Tannehill.
Probable cause:
Shot down by small arms after takeoff.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules in the A Shau Valley: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1972 at 2355 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0043
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani
MSN:
3070
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
Spectre 11
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
15
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Ubon Ratchathani Air Base in Thailand on a night armed reconnaissance mission to attack elite NVA forces known to be infiltrating from Laos into South Vietnam along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. While making a second low pass over the target area, the airplane's n°3 engine was hit by a Strela SA-7 missile. The airplane went out of control and crashed in flames in the A Shau Valley. 12 crew members were killed while three others were rescued.
Crew:
Cpt Paul Faris Gilbert, †
Cpt Robert Allan Wilson, †
Cpt Gordon Bocher,
Maj Gerald Francis Ayres, †
Maj Robert Herman Harrison, †
Cpt Mark Giles Danielson, †
2nd Lt Robert Reid,
M/Sgt Jacob Edward Mercer, †
T/Sgt Richard Milton Cole, †
S/Sgt Donald Herman Klinke, †
S/Sgt Larry Jerome Newman, †
S/Sgt Richard E. Nyhof, †
S/Sgt Leon Andrew Hunt, †
S/Sgt Stanley Lawrence Lehrke, †
S/Sgt William P. Patterson.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130D Hercules in Dye 3: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1972 at 0655 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-0495
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thule - Dye 3
MSN:
3202
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
6258
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a supply mission from Thule Airbase to Dye 3 Airstrip located about 320 km east of Sondreströmfjord, Greenland. On final approach, the airplane lost height and struck the ground. On impact, the landing gear, skis, outboard fuel tanks, and the number one engine were torn off as well as 12 feet from the left wing tip and six feet of the right wing tip. The airplane came to rest in flames in the snow. Seven occupants were slightly injured while the eighth one, a Danish citizen, was killed when a propeller blade detached and penetrated the fuselage.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the approach speed was too low, causing the airplane to stall during the last segment.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules off Magong AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-1805
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Taipei - Taipei
MSN:
3759
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew departed Taipei-Songshan on a maritime patrol flight over the China Sea. En route, in unknown circumstances, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea off the Magong AFB located in the south part of the Penghu Islands (Pescadores Islands). The aircraft sank and was lost and all six crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident remains unknown but it was reported that the crew apparently encountered technical issues with the undercarriage.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Kon Tum: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
63-7798
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3864
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Kon Tum, while in initial climb, the airplane was hit by a 122 mm rocket and crashed in flames in a field. A crew member survived while four others were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in An Lộc: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-1797
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Saigon - Saigon
MSN:
3748
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a resupply mission over the region of An Lộc. While flying at an altitude of 500 feet, on its way back to Saigon, the airplane was shot down by ground fire and crashed in flames in a prairie. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Donald Lee Unger,
Cpt Alexander Melver,
1st Lt Thomas Carl Widerquist,
S/Sgt Lester Bracey,
S/Sgt Joseph Clifford Hopper,
S/Sgt Freddie Leon Slater.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in An Lộc: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
64-0508
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Saigon - Saigon
MSN:
3992
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew departed Saigon-Tan Son Nhat on a supply dropping mission in the region of An Lộc. While approaching the target zone at an altitude of 500 feet and at a speed of 170 knots, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. It went out of control and crashed 1,5 km southwest of An Lộc. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Harry Arlo Amesbury,
1st Lt Kurt Frederick Weisman,
1st Lt Richard Lee Russell,
T/Sgt Donald Russell Hoskins,
S/Sgt Calvin Coolidge Cooke,
S/Sgt Richard Edward Dunn.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.