Crash of a De Havilland C-7A Caribou in Dak Seang: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
61-2406
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Phù Cát - Phù Cát
MSN:
68
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in an ammunitions dropping mission in the region of Dak Seang. While flying at an altitude of 400 feet, the aircraft was struck by enemy fire. It flew for several seconds before crashing in flames 8 km further. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Steve Warren Train,
1st Lt Charles E. Suprenant,
M/Sgt Dale Elling Christensen.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed EC-121M Super Constellation in Đà Nẵng: 23 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1970 at 1130 LT
Operator:
Registration:
145927
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Taipei - Đà Nẵng
MSN:
5508
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
The engine number four was shut down in flight due to a generator overheating. On final approach, the airplane was unstable and lost height. The crew was aware that the first 1,000 feet of the runway 35L were unserviceable due to repair so he increased power on the three remaining engines. At a height of about 40 feet, the tail stalled and struck the runway surface. Out of control, the airplane crashed in flames and struck several equipments on ground. Eight occupants and two people on the ground were injured while 23 other occupants were killed. Two trucks, a F-4D Phantom and several military equipments were destroyed as well.
Those killed were:
Lt Cdr Harvey C. K. Aiua,
Lt Cdr Harry C. Martin,
Lt Robin A. Pearce,
Lt George L. Morningstar,
Lt(jg) James M. Masters,
Lt(jg) Charles E. Pressler,
Lt(jg) Jean P. Souzon,
CO0 William J. Risse,
P01 Larry O. Marchbank,
P01 Arthur D. Simmons,
P01 Donald W. Wilson,
P02 Floyd E. Andrus,
P02 Gregory J. Asbeck,
P02 William P. Bletsch,
P02 Guy T. Denton,
P02 Joseph S. Saukaitis,
P02 John S. Schaefer,
P02 Stuart J. Scruggs,
P02 Barry M. Searby,
P03 John M. Birch,
P03 Thurle E. Case,
P03 Ben A. hughes,
P03 Ralph S. Purhum.
Probable cause:
It's the copilot who was in-command at the time of the accident and it is believed that he leveled the aircraft in an inappropriate position on short final. As the captain failed to supervise properly his operations, he was unable to correct the situation in due time.

Crash of a Fairchild AC-119K Stinger in Đà Nẵng

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1970
Operator:
Registration:
53-3156
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
11167
YOM:
1953
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Đà Nẵng, both engines failed. The airplane stalled and crashed 2 km short of runway threshold. All 10 occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed. The crew was returning to Đà Nẵng following a reconnaissance mission.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in Phan Rang

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
54-0688
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
20137
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown at Phan Rang Airport, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane slid for dozen yards, overran and came to rest. All five crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the nose gear upon landing for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Douglas C-117D Skytrain in Quảng Tín: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
17284
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
43367
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while completing a local training mission. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Col Douglas Lee Snead,
Cpt Donald Joseph Berger,
Sgt William Lloyd Bunch,
Cpl Ronald Francis Liscum.

Crash of a De Havilland C-7B Caribou in Tiên Phước: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
63-9723
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Phù Cát – Tiên Phước
MSN:
156
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to Tiên Phước, the airplane was hit by a mortal shell. Out of control, it dove into the ground and crashed few km short of runway threshold. The copilot survived while both other occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt David Bicknel Bowling, †
1st Lt R. J. Patterson,
T/Sgt E. J. Welch. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B in Nha Trang: 34 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-2005
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Saigon - Nha Trang
MSN:
44694
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
70
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Circumstances:
While approaching Nha Trang on a flight from Saigon, the pilot informed ATC about an explosion on board and that control was heavy. The hydraulic system failed so the undercarriage must be lowered manually. The captain decided to perform a low pass over the runway to check the landing gear with ATC. That made, the crew completed a nose high and flapless landing shortly later. After touchdown just over the threshold, the crew activated the reverse thrust systems when the airplane became airborne. So the throttles were closed and the aircraft landed again but too far down the runway. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran, struck a concrete pylon and several obstacles before coming to rest in flames in a popular area. Ten passengers and 24 people on the ground were killed. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a bomb placed in the front left lavatory exploded in flight, causing a 1,5 m hole in the fuselage and damaging the hydraulic lines.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in Gia Nghĩa: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-4562
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
20223
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On final approach to Gia Nghĩa, the airplane struck the ground and crashed in a field located few dozen yards short of runway threshold. It broke in two and caught fire. A crew member was killed while four others were injured.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules in Bù Đốp: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0499
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3107
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While landing at Bu Dop, the C-130 had a recoilless rifle round explode near its right wing. It taxied to the cargo pad and unloaded its cargo of 105 artillery ammunition. It then taxied to the end of the runway and the aircraft attempted to takeoff with three engines. The right outboard engine was feathered. It reached an altitude of about 300 ft when the right inboard engine seized pulling the aircraft into the antitank mine field where it struck an antitank mine which blew the aircraft in half at the landing gear. The front portion of the aircraft slid just barely into the camp through the anti personnel minefield. Reportedly there were four fatalities on the ground: Cambodian strike force members of the 5th Special Forces III Mobile Strike Force.
Source: ASN

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B1-H2 Turbo Porter in Núi Đất: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1969
Operator:
Registration:
A14-686
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
686
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight by night when the single engine aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in a prairie. Both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Barry Donald,
Lt Alan Jellie.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.