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

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1967 at 0940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
61-2649
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Huế – Đà Nẵng
MSN:
3692
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
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 Grumman E-1B Tracer near Đà Nẵng: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
148132
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Chu Lai – Đà Nẵng
MSN:
49
Flight number:
Sea Bat 700
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from Chu Lai to Đà Nẵng on behalf of the contingent of USS Oriskany. While descending to the airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was instructed to make a turn to the right to join the approach path when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain and crashed approximately 16 km from the airport. All five occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the mountain was shrouded in clouds. The bodies were found in 1993.
Crew:
Ltjg Andrew Gilbert Zissu,
Ltjg Normal Lee Roggow,
Ltjg Donald Findling Wolfe,
ATC Roland Robert Pineau,
Seaman Raul Antonio Guerra.

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

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1967
Operator:
Registration:
43-48591
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
14407/25852
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
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 Grumman US-2C Tracker into the Gulf of Tonkin

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
133371
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
USS Hornet - USS Hornet
MSN:
238
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The Tracker was lost while on a logistics flight to the USS Hornet in the Gulf of Tonkin. The aircraft suffered a loss of oil pressure in the starboard engine and the propeller had to be feathered but the aircraft could not maintain altitude and had to be ditched. All four crew members were picked up safely.
Source: Chris Hobson
Probable cause:
Loss of oil pressure on right engine in flight.

Crash of a Beechcraft U-21A Ute in Vũng Tàu: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vũng Tàu - Vũng Tàu
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training (transition) mission at Vũng Tàu Airport. After touchdown, the crew tried to avoid trespassers when control was lost and the aircraft crashed. Maj Bryan M. Blackshear Jr. was killed while the second pilot was injured. They were practicing engine failure at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider near Bảo Lộc: 11 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
54-0621
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Biên Hòa – Bảo Lộc – Nha Trang
MSN:
20070
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from Biên Hòa to Nha Trang with an intermediate stop at Bảo Lộc. While on approach, the pilot-in-command failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck the slope of a wooded mountain located some 19 km southwest of Bảo Lộc Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt Col Merle Deane Turner,
Cpt Edward Louis Goucher,
A1C james Russell Mayo.
Probable cause:
It was determined the accident was the consequence of a pilot error as he started the approach prematurely, causing the aircraft to descend below the minimum safe altitude.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-4A Caribou off An Thới

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A4-171
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
171
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching An Thới Airfield, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into a river. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were rescued.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Tam Kỳ: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1967 at 0835 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9475Z
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Quảng Ngãi – Tam Kỳ – Đà Nẵng
MSN:
AF-634
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
2446
Captain / Total hours on type:
725.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was completing a special flight from Quảng Ngãi to Đà Nẵng with an intermediate stop in Tam Kỳ on behalf of the US Air Force. Shortly after takeoff from Tam Kỳ Airport, while climbing, one of the engine failed. The pilot elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane struck a dirt bank and crashed in flames. Four passengers were killed while four other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland U-1A Otter in Pleiku: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 17, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
58-1702
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Nha Trang – Cheo Reo – Pleiku
MSN:
318
YOM:
1959
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While approaching Pleiku, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and rain showers. While approaching the airport from the south, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located on Mt Dragon, about 13 km south of Pleiku Airport. SAR operations were conducted but the wreckage was spotted on September 7 only. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland C-7B Caribou in Duc Phô: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-4161
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
99
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching a US special Army Forces camp, the airplane was mistakenly shot down by a US 155 mm howitzer. The tail was torn off and out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Alan Eugene Hendrickson,
Cpt John Dudley Wiley,
T/Sgt Zane AUbry Carter.
Probable cause:
Shot down by friendly fire.