Crash of a Douglas DC-7CF in Saigon

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1966 at 1719 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-7
Operator:
Registration:
N4059K
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Saigon – Manila
MSN:
44926/695
YOM:
1956
Location:
Saigon
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport, the right main gear and the nose gear collapsed for unknown reason. The aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. While all four crew members were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage collapsed or 'retraction' during takeoff for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47B in Saigon: 31 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1966 at 1920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
44-76574
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Saigon - Korat
MSN:
16158/32906
YOM:
1945
Location:
Saigon
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
31
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport, while climbing, the crew informed ground about the failure of the left engine and elected to return for a safe landing. On final approach, as he was unable to lower the landing gear, the captain decided to make a go-around and completed a circuit. While on a second approach, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a rice paddy field located few km from the runway threshold. All 25 passengers and 6 crew members were killed. The left propeller was feathered at the time of impact.
Crew:
Cpt Karl David Sobolik,
Lt Col William Affley Lynch,
Cpt Carroll Gene Hogeman,
Cpt John Richard Humphrey,
Cpt Joe H. Trickey,
S/Sgt Alan Ralph Steffen.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-117D Skytrain in Đà Nẵng: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-117 Skytrain
Operator:
Registration:
17211
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Đà Nẵng – Saigon
MSN:
13221
YOM:
1944
Location:
Đà Nẵng
Đà Nẵng City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Đà Nẵng Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed past the runway end. Seven crew members were killed were all 24 other occupants were injured, some of them seriously. The airplane was engaged in a troop transport from Đà Nẵng to Saigon. Engine failure is suspected.
Those killed were:
Lt Col David Cleeland,
Maj Clifton Bishop Andrews,
Maj Gerard Martin Kieswetter,
Cpt Jerome Cordell Winters,
Sgt Robert Clayton Morre,
G/Sgt Willis Shepherd Bowman,
Cpl Mickey Ray Grable.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules in Pleiku: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1966 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
61-0953
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Saigon – Pleiku
MSN:
3630
YOM:
1961
Location:
Pleiku
Gia Lai Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Pleiku Airport by night, the aircraft struck the ground few hundred yards short of runway and came to rest. Three crew members were killed while two others were injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The crew was completing one of his first rotation on this airport at the time of the accident. Visibility was poor due to the night and marginal weather conditions.
Lt Col Lee Bernard Tate,
1st Lt John Lawrence Banks,
A1C Ronald Charles Logan.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL near Vi Thanh

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1966 at 0740 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
B-929
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Saigon – Vi Thanh
MSN:
19496
YOM:
1944
Location:
Vị Thanh
Hậu Giang Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While descending to Vi Thanh Airfield, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crash landed in an open field located 18 km north of the city. All three occupants escaped the accident but both pilots were executed by North Vietnam soldiers while the passenger was interned.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-9-FA Provider in Saigon

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Registration:
54-0676
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20125
YOM:
1954
Location:
Saigon
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew contacted ground and obtained the permission to divert to Saigon-Tan Son Nhat for an emergency landing after an in-flight. After landing, the airplane came to rest in flames and was destroyed while both pilots escaped uninjured. The cause of the fire was probably a sabotage but this was not proven.
Probable cause:
In-flight fire in the cargo compartment for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules in An Khe

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
61-0970
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Saigon - An Khe
MSN:
3667
YOM:
1962
Location:
An Khe
Đà Nẵng City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at An Khe Airport, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. All five crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was written off. The airplane was completing a resupply mission from Saigon.

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

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
61-0972
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Saigon – Pleiku
MSN:
3669
YOM:
1962
Location:
Pleiku
Gia Lai Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach to Pleiku Airport, at an altitude of 1,200 feet, the airplane was hit by enemy fire and crashed about 5 km from the airfield. All five crew members were killed. The airplane was performing a flight from Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport, carrying a load of 30,000 pounds of detonators.
Crew (463 TCW Mactan, Philippines):
Cpt Richard Joseph Callanan,
Cpt Lee Christopher Dixon,
1st Lt Jon Alfred Greenley,
S/Sgt James Robert Lute,
A2C Lowell Franklin White.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas AC-47D Spooky in Vietnam: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-49492
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Saigon – Phan Rang
MSN:
15308/26753
YOM:
1944
Location:
Vietnam
All Vietnam
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft went missing during a night cross country courier flight between Saigon and Phan Rang. The wreckage was found on 23 December and the indications were that the aircraft had been shot down by ground fire. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Robert William Abbot,
Maj Robert Lloyd Abernathy,
1st Lt Francis Richard Buckley,
M/Sgt Joseph Anthony Cestaric,
T/Sgt John Monroe Chappell,
T/Sgt Thomas Newton Sloan,
S/Sgt Ralph Leon Hinson,
A1C Claude Wesley Matthews,
A1C Johnson Ashley Meade.
Probable cause:
Shot down.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-19-FA Provider in Saigon

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Registration:
56-4381
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20265
YOM:
1956
Location:
Saigon
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport, the captain decided to abandon the departure and started an emergency braking procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran and came to rest. All four crew members were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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