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:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Qui Nhơn – Đà Nẵng
MSN:
7469
YOM:
1944
Location:
Huế
Thừa Thiên–Huế Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
46
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
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 Beechcraft JU-21A Letf Jab near Huế: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1971 at 0840 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft U-21 Ute
Operator:
Registration:
67-18065
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Huế - Huế
MSN:
LM-66
YOM:
1967
Location:
Huế
Thừa Thiên–Huế Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The electronic warfare airplane was engaged in a radio research mission out from Huế-Phu Bai Airport. En route, it was shot down by a surface-to-air missile and crashed near the demilitarized zone (DMZ). All five occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Michael W. Marker, pilot,
Wo1 Harold L. Algaard, copilot.
Passengers:
Sp5 Rodney D. Osborne,
Sp5 Richard J. Hentz,
Sp6 John T. Strawn.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a surface-to-air missile.

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:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Saigon - Huê
MSN:
3251
YOM:
1940
Location:
Đà Nẵng
Đà Nẵng City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
34
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
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 Douglas EC-47P near Huế: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-48402
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
14218/25663
YOM:
1944
Location:
Huế
Thừa Thiên–Huế Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While in a mission in the A Shau Valley at an altitude of 5,500 feet, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire. An engine was losing oil and the crew decided to return to Huế Airport. Unable to maintain the minimum prescribed altitude, the captain elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane crashed 32 km southwest of Huế. The captain and the flight engineer were killed while seven other occupants were injured.
Those killed were:
1st Lt George M. Wall,
S/Sgt Michael R. Conner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Beechcraft U-21A Ute near Huế: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft U-21 Ute
Operator:
Registration:
66-18007
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Quy Nhơn – Huế
MSN:
LM-8
YOM:
1967
Location:
Huế
Thừa Thiên–Huế Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While descending to Huế-Phú Bài Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility. Too low, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Loc Thuy located about 45 km southeast of Huế Airport. All five occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Charles R. Barnes, pilot,
Cpt David R. Smith, pilot.
Passengers:
SP4 Michael L. Batt,
SP4 Raymond E. Bobe,
Maj Marvin L. Foster.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL near Huế: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1969 at 1345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
949
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Huế – Đà Nẵng
MSN:
20415
YOM:
1944
Location:
Huế
Thừa Thiên–Huế Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck trees and crashed on the slope of a wooded mountain. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 12 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in Khe Sanh: 50 killed

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1968 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Registration:
54-0590
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Huế – Khe Sanh
MSN:
20039
YOM:
1954
Location:
Khe Sanh
Quảng Trị Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
45
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
50
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a flight from Huế to Khe Sanh, carrying troops and spare parts. On approach, the crew was forced to make a go-around because of the presence of a light aircraft on runway. Shortly later, the airplane was hit by ground fire. The left engine caught fire and the airplane crashed in a dense wooded area located 2 km from the airfield. All 50 occupants were killed, 5 crew members, 44 soldiers and one civilian photographer.
Crew:
Lt Col Frederick Jordan Hampton,
1st Lt Ellis Eugene Helgeson,
Sgt Jeffrey Francis Conlin,
S/Sgt William Frank Anselmo,
S/Sgt Noel Luis Rios.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules in Huế: 24 killed

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1967 at 0940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
61-2649
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Huế – Đà Nẵng
MSN:
3692
YOM:
1962
Location:
Huế
Thừa Thiên–Huế Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
Ten minutes after takeoff from Huế Airport, while climbing in marginal weather conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain (1,850 feet high) located about 10 km from the airfield. The wreckage was found two days later about 150 feet below the summit and all 24 occupants have been killed. It appears the aircraft struck the mountain at a speed of 465 km/h. At the time of the accident, the mountain was shrouded in clouds.
Crew:
Lt Col Christopher Braybrooke,
Maj Robert William Anderson,
Cpt Scott McClelland Burkett,
A1C Terry Michael Rehm,
A2C Ronald Paul Ruyf.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew was climbing under VFR mode in marginal weather conditions when the accident occurred.

Crash of a Douglas AC-47D Spooky near Huế: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-48591
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
14407/25852
YOM:
1944
Location:
Huế
Thừa Thiên–Huế Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While flying at low height, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire (artillery) and crashed in flames about 64 km south of Huế. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Col Van Harold Newville,
Cpt Arthur Raymond Coughlin,
Maj William Whitby Duck,
M/Sgt Charles Joseph Rogiers,
T/Sgt James Charles Krouse,
A2C William Ward Scoville,
A2C Walter Clarence Wright.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Volpar Turboliner 18 in Đà Nẵng: 9 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1967 at 1507 LT
Type of aircraft:
Volpar Turboliner 18
Operator:
Registration:
N91284
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Đà Nẵng – Huế
MSN:
AF-439
YOM:
1953
Location:
Đà Nẵng
Đà Nẵng City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Few minutes after his takeoff from Đà Nẵng Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls due to monsoon storm. The twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain and crashed few km from the airport, killing all nine occupants, among them seven educators and a member of the USAID.
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