Vietnam | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While approaching the coast to land on an unknown airport, the crew was unable to locate the airfield due to thick fog. The captain evacuated the area and flew over the sea when few minutes later, he ordered all 16 crew members to bail out and to abandon the aircraft that crashed into the sea. 15 occupants were rescued while one was killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft King Air 90 in Vietnam: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1971 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

Registration:

67-18065

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

LM-066

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Crash of a Douglas C-47A-85-DL in South Vietnam: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1970

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-15583

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

20049

YOM:

1944

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Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in South Vietnam while completing a local training mission. The crew lost control of the airplane following an in-flight engine failure. A crew member was killed while three others were injured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in South Vietnam

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

54-0595

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

20044

YOM:

1954

Location:

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After touchdown on an airbase located somewhere in South Vietnam, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a parked helicopter. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Vietnam: 16 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

B-1541

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Schedule:

Phan Rang - Pleiku

Location:

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Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Vietnam while completing a flight from Phan Rang to Pleiku. All 16 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Grumman US-2C Tracker off South Vietnam: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 13, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Grumman S-2 Tracker

Operator:

Registration:

133365

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

YOM:

1957

Location:

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While flying along the South Vietnam coast, the crew informed ground that an engine caught fire. Control was lost and the airplane crashed into the sea. A crew member was rescued while two others died.
Those killed were:
Lt Cdr Robert Eugene Robinson,
Ens John Wesley Coghill.

Probable cause:

Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-18-FA Provider in South Vietnam

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

56-4372

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

20256

YOM:

1956

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Crashed in unknown circumstances in South Vietnam, injuring all five crew members.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B in South Vietnam

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1966

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-48961

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

14777/26222

YOM:

1944

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The aircraft was used in psychological warfare role. It was fitted with loudspeakers for the delivery of propaganda messages. In flight, an engine failed, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing in an open field. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while all four crew members were rescued.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

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:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Saigon – Phan Rang

MSN:

15308/26753

YOM:

1944

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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-123K Provider in South Vietnam

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1965

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

54-0651

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

20100

YOM:

1954

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

While on a supply mission, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed somewhere in South Vietnam. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were injured.
Crew:
Cpt J. T. Rutledge,
1st Lt T. O. Norris.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.