Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider near Thakhet: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1973 at 0732 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
374
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vientiane - Savannakhét
MSN:
20258
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route from Vientiane to Savannakhét on a cargo flight with 5,4 tons of various goods, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. Two crew members bailed out when the airplane went out of control and crashed. Both pilots were killed. One kicker was killed when he jumped without a parachute while the second kicker parachuted from the aircraft and survived.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas EC-47Q near Salavan: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1973
Operator:
Registration:
43-48636
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani
MSN:
14452/25897
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
Baron 52
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Ubon Ratchathani AFB on a survey flight over the Ho Chi minh Trail to locate tanks. While flying at low height by night, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in an isolated area located 56 km southeast of Salavan. The wreckage was found two days later and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt George Ross Spitz,
1st Lt Robert Edward Bernhardt,
Cpt Arthur Ray Bollinger,
2nd Lt Severo James Primm,
S/Sgt Todd Michael Melton,
Sgt Dale Brandenburg,
Sgt Peter Richard Cressman,
Sgt Joseph Andrew Matejov.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed AC-130A Spectre near Pakse: 14 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0490
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani
MSN:
3098
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Ubon Ratchathani Airbase to attack some trucks on the Ho Chi Minh Trail 12 passengers and a crew of four on board. While cruising at an altitude of 7,800 feet, the airplane was hit by 37 mm anti-aircraft fire. Two crew members parachuted to safety while 14 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Harry Roy Lagerwall, †
Cpt Stanley Neal Kroboth, †
Maj Paul Oswald Meder, †
Maj Francis Anthony Walsh, †
Cpt Joel Ray Birch, †
Cpt Thomas Trammell Hart, †
Cpt Robert Leonel Liles, †
2nd Lt George Duncan MacDonald, †
1st Lt Delmar Ernest Dickens, †
A1C Charles Frederick Fenter, †
T/Sgt Robert Thomas Elliott, †
T/Sgt James Ray Fuller, †
T/Sgt John Quitman Winningham, †
Sgt Richard Williams,
Sgt Carl E. Stevens,
A1C Rollie Keith Reaid. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-35-BW Stratofortress in Laos: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0669
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
464040
YOM:
1956
Flight number:
Straw 2
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Andersen AFB on Guam Island under call sign Straw 2 with six crew members on board, taking part to the Linebacker II mission over Vietnam. While flying over Hanoi, the airplane was hit by enemy fire (SA-2 surface to air missile). The pilot was able to leave the target area and elected to fly to Thailand but while over Laos, all six crew members bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in an isolated area. Five crew members survived while the sixth occupant, Maj Frank Gould, radio navigator, was killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a De Havilland C-7A Caribou in Salavan: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
401
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pakse - Pakse
MSN:
63
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While on a supply mission from Pakse and flying at low height, the airplane was struck by ground fire and crashed in flames in the region of Salavan. All four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in Paksong

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
648
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pakse - Pakse
MSN:
20097
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Pakse on a supply mission, carrying foods and ammunition loaded on 14 pallets. While flying at low height, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. All four crew members decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that crashed in a huge explosion and was destroyed. All four crew members were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crassh of a Pilatus PC-6/C-H2 Turbo Porter in Ban Vieng

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1972 at 0930 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N357F
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ban Huoeisay - Ban Vieng
MSN:
2015
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10000
Captain / Total hours on type:
474.00
Circumstances:
The pilot and his passenger departed Ban Huoeisay (Houei Sai) on a cargo flight to Ban Vieng with rice bags on board. While flying at low height, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a prairie. Both occupants were injured, the pilot seriously.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider near Vang Vieng: 9 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
555
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Vang Vieng - Long Tieng
MSN:
20216
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from Vang Vieng to Long Tieng, carrying 6,7 tons of various military materials on behalf of the US Air Force. While cruising in marginal weather conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck a mountain at an altitude of 4,850 feet. The wreckage was found 20 feet below the summit and all nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Tha Tham Bleung: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1972 at 1050 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N5662
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vientiane - Vientiane
MSN:
326
YOM:
1971
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
14258
Captain / Total hours on type:
480.00
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a supply mission out from Vientiane-Wattay Airport, carrying two passengers, two crew and a load of 2,780 pounds of food. While approaching the drop zone and flying below the cloud base, the pilot-in-command initiated a steep turn to the left when the airplane stalled and crashed. A passenger survived while three other occupants were killed. It is believed that the aircraft's speed was too low during the last turn, causing it to stall and to crash.
Final Report:

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/C-H2 Turbo Porter in Nyot Mo: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1972 at 1223 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N391R
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Long Tieng – Mường Chà
MSN:
519
YOM:
1961
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
5563
Captain / Total hours on type:
3500.00
Circumstances:
While cruising over mountainous terrain, the pilot encountered difficulties when the single engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a jungle. The pilot and three passengers were killed while six other passengers were injured.
Final Report: