Vietnam | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after takeoff from Kon Tum, while in initial climb, the airplane was hit by a 122 mm rocket and crashed in flames in a field. A crew member survived while four others were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in An Lộc: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

62-1797

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Saigon - Saigon

MSN:

3748

YOM:

1962

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a resupply mission over the region of An Lộc. While flying at an altitude of 500 feet, on its way back to Saigon, the airplane was shot down by ground fire and crashed in flames in a prairie. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Donald Lee Unger,
Cpt Alexander Melver,
1st Lt Thomas Carl Widerquist,
S/Sgt Lester Bracey,
S/Sgt Joseph Clifford Hopper,
S/Sgt Freddie Leon Slater.

Probable cause:

Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Fairchild AC-119K Flying Boxcar near An Lộc: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

Operator:

Registration:

53-7826

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Biên Hòa - Biên Hòa

MSN:

11239

YOM:

1953

Flight number:

Stinger 41

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed Biên Hòa Airport on a mission to An Lộc under callsign Stinger 41. While circling over An Lộc at an altitude of 4,700 feet, the starboard wing was hit by ground fire. The captain reduced his altitude and lower the gear in an attempt to make an emergency landing. This caused high drag and the airplane lost altitude. Seven crew members bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that crash 8 km from An Lộc. All three crew members who remained on board were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Terrance Francis Courtney, †
Lt Jim Barkalow,
Cpt David Roddy Slagle, †
Lt Col Tashioglou,
Lt Larry Barbee,
S/Sgt Bare,
S/Sgt Kenneth R. Brown, †
S/Sgt Dale Iman,
S/Sgt Ski Sledzinski,
A1c Craig Corbett.

Probable cause:

Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in An Lộc: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

64-0508

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Saigon - Saigon

MSN:

3992

YOM:

1964

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed Saigon-Tan Son Nhat on a supply dropping mission in the region of An Lộc. While approaching the target zone at an altitude of 500 feet and at a speed of 170 knots, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. It went out of control and crashed 1,5 km southwest of An Lộc. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Harry Arlo Amesbury,
1st Lt Kurt Frederick Weisman,
1st Lt Richard Lee Russell,
T/Sgt Donald Russell Hoskins,
S/Sgt Calvin Coolidge Cooke,
S/Sgt Richard Edward Dunn.

Probable cause:

Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Lai Khê

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

63-7775

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Saigon - Saigon

MSN:

3841

YOM:

1963

Location:

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Region:

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Pax on board:

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Other fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed Saigon on a supply dropping mission to An Loc. While flying at low height and high speed, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. The crew elected to return to Saigon when few minutes later, the right wing caught fire. The captain attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in flames in a swampy area. All five occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Emergency landing after being shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Beechcraft U-21A Ute off Đà Nẵng: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft U-21 Ute

Operator:

Registration:

67-18041

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

LM-42

YOM:

1967

Location:

Đà Nẵng

Đà Nẵng City District

Country:

Vietnam

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

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Shortly after takeoff from runway 35 at Đà Nẵng Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the Đà Nẵng Bay. The wreckage was found near the Island of Hòn Sơn Chà, some 16 km north of the airport. The aircraft was lost and all six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control due to an explosion and fire on the right engine during initial climb. The reason of the occurrence remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Quy Nhơn: 22 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

South Vietnamese Air Force

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Country:

Region:

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On final approach to Qui Nhơn Airport in heavy rain falls, the airplane crashed few km short of runway. A passenger was seriously injured while 22 other occupants were 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

Location:

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Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in Thiện Ngôn

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

54-0650

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

20099

YOM:

1954

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

Upon landing, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames. All four crew members were able to evacuate the cabin before the airplane would be totally destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/C-H2 Turbo Porter in Cần Thơ: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)

Operator:

Registration:

N393R

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

598

YOM:

1966

Location:

Cần Thơ

Cần Thơ City District

Country:

Vietnam

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Approaching Cần Thơ Airport from the north, the pilot of the Porter requested permission to land and was on VHF frequency. At the same time, a crew of two on board a Bell AH-1G Cobra registered 67-15676 was given permission to takeoff. While climbing, the helicopter struck the Porter, causing both airplanes to crash. All eight occupants were killed.