Đà Nẵng

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Đà Nẵng – Saigon – Singapore

MSN:

19819

YOM:

1968

Flight number:

VN706

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Đà Nẵng to Saigon, while cruising at an altitude of 26,000 feet, three guys entered the cockpit and ordered the pilot to divert to Hanoi. The captain tried to explain that this was not possible and that he should perform an intermediate stop at Phan Rang Airport. Shortly later, two hand grenades exploded in the front part of the cabin, causing major damages to the aircraft control systems. While approaching Phan Rang Airport, at a height of 1,000 feet, the airplane entered a nose-down attitude then crashed in a huge explosion in a rice paddy field located few km from the runway threshold. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 75 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The airplane became uncontrollable and crashed following a hijacking situation and the explosion of two hand grenades on board.

Ground explosion of a Douglas C-54A-5-DO Skymaster in Huê: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

XV-NUM

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Qui Nhơn – Đà Nẵng

MSN:

7469

YOM:

1944

Location:

Huế

Thừa Thiên–Huế Province

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Qui Nhơn Airport for Đà Nẵng, a hijacker ordered the crew to divert to Đồng Hới. The captain stated that a fuel stop was necessary at Đông Hà Airport but he flew directly to Huê. When the hijacker realized he was tricked, he detonated explosives in the front part of the cabin. Three passengers were killed while several other occupants were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Partially destroyed by hand grenade after being hijacked.

Crash of a Douglas C-54 Skymaster in Buon Ma Thuot: 62 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1973 at 1005 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

XV-NUI

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Saigon – Đà Nẵng

MSN:

22174

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude on a flight from Saigon to Đà Nẵng, the four engine aircraft disappeared from radar screens. The crew was unable to send any distress message. The wreckage was found few hours later about 24 km south of Buôn Ma Thuột and all 62 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. An explosion from an unknown origin occurred in the cargo hold, between both wings, causing a brutal decompression of the cabin and the explosion of the airplane. The assumption that the detonation was caused by an explosive device was not ruled out.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-65-BO Stratofortress in Đà Nẵng

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

55-0116

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

U-Tapao - U-Tapao

MSN:

17232

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While engaged in a bombing mission over North Vietnam, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. The captain decided to evacuate the target area and to divert to Đà Nẵng Airport for an emergency landing. After touchdown completed in difficult conditions, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining runway, overran and came to rest. While all six crew members escaped uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

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:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

LM-42

YOM:

1967

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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 Douglas DC-3DST-318A near Đà Nẵng: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1970

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

B-305

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Saigon - Huê

MSN:

3251

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While descending to Huê Airport, the crew was instructed by ATC to divert to Đà Nẵng Airport due to poor weather conditions. While approaching Đà Nẵng at low height, the airplane struck a mountain (970 meters high) located near the Cloud Pass, about 17 km north of the airfield. A passenger and three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Fairchild AC-119K Stinger into the South China Sea: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1970

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

52-5935

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Lockheed C-121 Super Constellation

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Đà Nẵng - Đà Nẵng

MSN:

11114

YOM:

1952

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route on a night gunship mission, the captain informed ground that he lost a propeller blade on the left engine. He elected to return to Đà Nẵng Airport but eventually decided to continue over the South China Sea where all 10 crew members abandoned the aircraft that crashed into the sea. Nine occupants were found alive while the body of the 10th crew member (T/Sgt Clyde Douglas Alloway) was not recovered.

Probable cause:

Lost of propeller blade in flight.

Crash of a Lockheed EC-121M Super Constellation in Đà Nẵng: 23 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1970 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

145927

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Taipei - Đà Nẵng

MSN:

5508

YOM:

1958

Location:

Country:

Region:

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The engine number four was shut down in flight due to a generator overheating. On final approach, the airplane was unstable and lost height. The crew was aware that the first 1,000 feet of the runway 35L were unserviceable due to repair so he increased power on the three remaining engines. At a height of about 40 feet, the tail stalled and struck the runway surface. Out of control, the airplane crashed in flames and struck several equipments on ground. Eight occupants and two people on the ground were injured while 23 other occupants were killed. Two trucks, a F-4D Phantom and several military equipments were destroyed as well.
Those killed were:
Lt Cdr Harvey C. K. Aiua,
Lt Cdr Harry C. Martin,
Lt Robin A. Pearce,
Lt George L. Morningstar,
Lt(jg) James M. Masters,
Lt(jg) Charles E. Pressler,
Lt(jg) Jean P. Souzon,
CO0 William J. Risse,
P01 Larry O. Marchbank,
P01 Arthur D. Simmons,
P01 Donald W. Wilson,
P02 Floyd E. Andrus,
P02 Gregory J. Asbeck,
P02 William P. Bletsch,
P02 Guy T. Denton,
P02 Joseph S. Saukaitis,
P02 John S. Schaefer,
P02 Stuart J. Scruggs,
P02 Barry M. Searby,
P03 John M. Birch,
P03 Thurle E. Case,
P03 Ben A. hughes,
P03 Ralph S. Purhum.

Probable cause:

It's the copilot who was in-command at the time of the accident and it is believed that he leveled the aircraft in an inappropriate position on short final. As the captain failed to supervise properly his operations, he was unable to correct the situation in due time.

Crash of a Fairchild AC-119K Stinger in Đà Nẵng

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1970

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

53-3156

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

11167

YOM:

1953

Location:

Country:

Region: