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

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
58-0722
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3517
YOM:
1959
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a supply mission to Bảo Lộc Airstrip. After touchdown, the crew encountered technical problems with the braking systems and the captain decided to attempt a go-around manoeuvre and increased engine power. Shortly after liftoff, while passing over the runway end, the airplane struck a small hill, stalled and crashed in flames into a ravine. Three crew members were killed while three others were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed following several explosion caused by a stock of ammunition on board.
Those killed were:
S/Sgt David Glover,
S/Sgt Donald Kannel,
A1C David Chaney.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in Saigon

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-4575
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
20236
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown at Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane slid on runway for several yards before coming to rest. All five crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Nose gear collapsed on landing.

Crash of a Lockheed C-141A-LM Starlifter off Cam Ranh Bay: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
66-0127
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cam Ranh Bay - Yokota - McChord
MSN:
6153
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
973
Circumstances:
While taxiing to the runway for takeoff the crew completed the Before Takeoff Checklist. The copilot inadvertently missed the item referring to the automatic Spoiler Select Switch. The switch should have been in the "Rejected Takeoff" (RTO) position, but was in the "Autoland" position when the airplane departed. Unnoticed by the crew, between 34-60 Knots, the spoilers automatically deployed to the ground position. The crew noticed a reduced acceleration rate, but elected to continue the takeoff. The aircraft became airborne, accelerated poorly and began a shallow descent. It crashed into the sea just off the end of the runway. Six crew members were killed while two others were rescued.
Those killed were:
Maj Harry Milton Brenn,
Cpt Morris Bowdoin Witt,
SMS Roy Earl Shults,
M/Sgt Herman Eugene Miller,
T/Sgt Marshall Edward Brown,
T/Sgt Harold Eugene Mahy.
Probable cause:
Poor flight preparation, takeoff check-list not followed.

Crash of a Douglas AC-47D Spooky in Hội An: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1967
Operator:
Registration:
44-76534
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Đà Nẵng - Đà Nẵng
MSN:
16118/32866
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While on a gunship support missions to outposts, the Spooky was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in a dense wooded area, killing all seven crew members.
Crew:
Cpt William Hadley Hosea,
Cpt Herbert Charles Rice,
Cpt John Bishop Cabana,
S/Sgt John Larue Brim,
S/Sgt James Lewis Fields,
T/Sgt Guy Joseph Brungard,
A1C Robert Edwin Ruonavaara.
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:
Operator:
Registration:
N91284
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Đà Nẵng – Huế
MSN:
AF-439
YOM:
1953
Country:
Region:
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.

Crash of a Douglas AC-47D Spooky in Bien Hòa

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1967
Operator:
Registration:
43-48356
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
14172/25617
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Bien Hòa Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane was hit by enemy fire, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed near the airport and while all seven crew members were rescued, the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Ground collision with a Lockheed C-141A Starlifter in Đà Nẵng: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
65-9407
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6144
YOM:
1965
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
1012
Circumstances:
Some of the bases in South Vietnam were among the world's busiest airfields during the height of the war in Southeast Asia. The number of aircraft movements at bases like Đà Nẵng and Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport equalled or exceeded those at major US and European airports. With the huge amount of activity involved it is inevitable that accidents should sometimes occur on the ground. The worst such accident happened in the early hours of 23 March and involved a Marine Corps A-6, which was taking off from Đà Nẵng on a strike mission, and a MAC C-141 Starlifter. The air traffic controller had cleared the Intruder to take off but also unwittingly cleared the C-141 to cross the runway. The Intruder pilot saw the Starlifter at the last moment and tried to veer off the runway to avoid it but the Intruder's port wing sliced through the Starlifter's nose. The Intruder sumersalted onto its back and continued down the runway. The pilot and navigator miraculously escaped death and crawled through their smashed canopy. The aircraft was carrying 16x500lbs bombs and six rocket packs, some of which later exploded in the fire. The C-141 immediately burst into flames igniting its cargo of 72 acetylene gas cylinders, which resulted in a tremendous explosion. All the Starlifter crew died except the loadmaster who managed to escape from one of the aft doors before the aircraft exploded. The identity of the crewmen who survived remains unknown.
Crew:
Cpt Harold Leland Hale,
Cpt Leroy Edward Leonard,
Cpt Max Paul Starkel,
S/Sgt Alanson Garland Bynum,
S/Sgt Alfred Funck.
Source: Chris Hobson
Probable cause:
ATC error.

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

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
63-7772
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3838
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff from An Khe Airstrip, while climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames. All five crew members were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed by fire. It was reported that the crew's vision was obscured by dust crated by the rotor of a Chinook.

Crash of a Douglas VC-47J in Phan Rang: 25 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1967 at 1620 LT
Operator:
Registration:
99844
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cam Ranh Bay – Saigon
MSN:
16519/33267
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
Crash in unknown circumstances near Phan Rang while completing an administrative service from Cam Ranh Bay to Saigon. All 25 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt Cdr Leo Claude Hester,
Lt Cdr Robert George Kerr,
AN Francis Raymond Ferron,
ADR2 Cecil Leroy Chapman.

Crash of a Douglas RC-47P near Duc Phô: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1967
Operator:
Registration:
43-49201
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Nha Trang - Nha Trang
MSN:
15017/26462
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While on a reconnaissance mission, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed on a hilly terrain located 16 km south of Duc Phô. The wreckage was found two days later and all seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Ivel Doan Freeman,
Maj Leroy Preston Bohrer,
Cpt Roger Paul Richardson,
S/Sgt Prentice Fay Brenton,
T/Sgt Raymond Francis Leftwich,
A1C Chalres Dwayne Land,
A1C Daniel Cortez Reese.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.