Crash of a Douglas AC-47D Spooky in Bình Thủy

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1967
Operator:
Registration:
44-76542
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
16126/32874
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Bình Thủy Airfield, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and crashed. All seven crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules in Tây Ninh

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
60-0307
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3618
YOM:
1961
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Tây Ninh Airstrip, while in initiale climb, the pilot encountered technical problems with the flaps and decided to perform an emergency landing in a rice paddy field. All five crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Flaps problems during takeoff.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/A-H2 Turbo Porter near Chu Lai: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1967
Operator:
Registration:
N185X
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Đà Nẵng – Quảng Ngãi
MSN:
566
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the single engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 11 km west of Chu Lai. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas AC-47D Spooky in Đức Phổ: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1967
Operator:
Registration:
43-49124
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Đà Nẵng - Đà Nẵng
MSN:
14940/26385
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew departed Đà Nẵng Airport on a target reconnaissance, carrying a crew of seven. While cruising by night at low altitude and low speed, the airplane was hit by enemy fire and crashed near Đức Phổ. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Charles William Robertson,
1st Lt James Donald Goodman,
Maj Joseph E. Wilkinson,
S/Sgt Raymond Medina,
S/Sgt Cecil Truman Thompson,
A1C Dana Richard Kelley,
A2C Lonny Leroy Mitzel.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-4372
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
20256
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in South Vietnam, injuring all five crew members.

Crash of a Douglas DC-7CF in Saigon

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1966 at 1719 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N4059K
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Saigon – Manila
MSN:
44926/695
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
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 Canadair CL-44D4-1 in Đà Nẵng: 111 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1966 at 1915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N228SW
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Tachikawa – Đà Nẵng
MSN:
31
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
111
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Tachikawa AFB to Đà Nẵng on a subcontract mission for the US Air Force, carrying various equipments and goods. On final approach to Đà Nẵng Airport by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls and fog. In low visibility, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck an obstacle, stalled and crashed in flames in the district of Binh Thai located few dozen yards short of runway. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and several houses were destroyed. All four crew members were killed as well as 107 people on the ground. 50 others were injured, among them 19 seriously.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew continued the approach below the glide in below-minima weather conditions, probably in order to establish a visual contact with the ground. Poor weather conditions and low visibility were considered as contributing factors.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1966 at 1920 LT
Operator:
Registration:
44-76574
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Saigon - Korat
MSN:
16158/32906
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
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 Fairchild C-123B-17-FA Provider in Dầu Tiếng

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-4367
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dầu Tiếng - Dầu Tiếng
MSN:
20251
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
35
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a paradropping mission, carrying 35 paratroopers and two pilots. Shortly after takeoff from Dầu Tiếng Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. Hydraulic lines were ruptured and the fluid caught fire. The crew was able to make a circuit to return for an emergency belly landing. The airplane belly landed and came to rest onto runway. All 37 occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a De Havilland CV-2B Caribou near Tuy Hòa

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-4167
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
105
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances 19 km southwest of Ty Hóa. The crew fate remains unknown.