Chu Lai | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

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.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-11-FA Provider near Chu Lai: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

54-0708

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Chu Lai – Đà Nẵng

MSN:

20157

YOM:

1954

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Chu Lai Airbase, the crew encountered technical difficulties with the fuel transfer system. When engine developed problems, the pilot loss of control of the aircraft that crashed. Three crew members were killed while a fourth occupant was rescued.
Crew:
Cpt Kenneth Roy Crist,
1st Lt Roger Henry Strout,
S/Sgt Jesse John Bradshaw.

Probable cause:

Engine problems caused by fuel transfer issue.

Crash of a Grumman E-1B Tracer near Đà Nẵng: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Grumman E-1B Tracer

Operator:

Registration:

148132

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Chu Lai – Đà Nẵng

MSN:

Flight number:

Sea Bat 700

Location:

Đà Nẵng

Đà Nẵng City District

Country:

Vietnam

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a flight from Chu Lai to Đà Nẵng on behalf of the contingent of USS Oriskany. While descending to the airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was instructed to make a turn to the right to join the approach path when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain and crashed approximately 16 km from the airport. All five occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the mountain was shrouded in clouds. The bodies were found in 1993.
Crew:
Ltjg Andrew Gilbert Zissu,
Ltjg Normal Lee Roggow,
Ltjg Donald Findling Wolfe,
ATC Roland Robert Pineau,
Seaman Raul Antonio Guerra.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/A-H2 Turbo Porter near Chu Lai: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)

Operator:

Registration:

N185X

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Đà Nẵng – Quảng Ngãi

MSN:

566

YOM:

1964

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising in poor weather conditions, the single engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 11 km west of Chu Lai. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Fairchild UC-123B Provider in Tam Kỳ

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1966

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

56-4378

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Chu Lai – Đà Nẵng

MSN:

20262

YOM:

1956

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising at low height, the airplane was struck by enemy fire. The pilot was able to complete an emergency landing in a rice paddy field and all three crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules in Chu Lai

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1965

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

56-0502

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

3110

YOM:

1957

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew elected to takeoff from Chu Lai Airbase with one engine inoperative. The airplane stalled and crashed. All five crew members were slightly injured and the aircrarft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Error on part of the crew who decided to takeoff with one engine inoperative.