Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell in Recreio dos Bandeirantes: 17 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1968
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
5143
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Recreio dos Bandeirantes
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Guaratinguetá Airport on a liaison flight with two pilots and 15 passengers on board. While approaching Rio de Janeiro from the southwest, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane struck the slope of Morro da Prainha mountain located near Recreio dos Bandeirantes. The airplane exploded on impact and all 17 occupants have been killed.

Crash of a Douglas EC-47Q in Klawock

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-24304
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10166
YOM:
1943
Location:
Klawock
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was transferring the aircraft to Vietnam. While approaching Klawock Airstrip located in south Alaska, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a swampy area. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Buôn Ma Thuột: 23 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1968 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
45-0934
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Saigon – Đà Nẵng – Hong Kong
MSN:
16937/34196
YOM:
1945
Location:
Buôn Ma Thuột
Đắk Lắk Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet on a flight from Saigon to Đà Nẵng, the right engine failed. The crew was unable to feather the propeller nor to maintain the assigned altitude so the captain decided to divert to Buôn Ma Thuột Airport. While descending, the airplane went out of control and crashed at an altitude of 700 meters on a plateau located 18 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 23 occupants were killed, among them two US civilians.
Crew:
Lt Col Howard Elmer Van Vliet,
Lt Col Robert Brooks Richardson,
Lt Col Council Lee Royal,
Maj Gerald Eugene Burgener,
Maj Basil Lincoln Ciriello,
Maj Gerald Dean Ziehe,
Cpt Gayland Omer Scott,
M/Sgt William Parker Bowman,
T/Sgt Donald William Bruck,
T/Sgt Billy Day Morris,
T/Sgt John Derral Thomas,
S/Sgt Eugene William Hendricks.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules near Akhisar: 10 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
17949
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
4100
YOM:
1965
Location:
Akhisar
Aegean Region (Ege Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a liaison flight to Izmir-Cumaovasi Airport when it struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Akhisar. All 10 occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland C-7B Caribou at Camp Evans AFB: 13 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1968 at 1610 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
Operator:
Registration:
63-9753
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
213
YOM:
1964
Location:
Camp Evans AFB (Huế)
Thừa Thiên–Huế Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Camp Evans AFB, while climbing to an altitude of 335 meters, the Caribou collided with a USAF Boeing-Vertol CH-47A Chinook registered 66-19041 that was approaching the same airbase with 6 passengers and five crew members on board. The rear rotor of the Chinook struck the cockpit of the Caribou. Following the collision, the Chinook and the Caribou dove into the ground and crashed few hundred yards from the runway end. All 26 occupants were killed in the accident and up to date, this was considered as the worst aerial collision involving USAF in Vietnam. At the time of the accident, the Caribou speed was about 190 km/h while the Chinook was approaching Camp Evans at a speed of 185 km/h.
Caribou crew:
Cpt Wayne Philip Bundy,
1st Lt Ralph Schiavone,
S/Sgt Donald Gene Cleaver,
S/Sgt James Kenneth Connor.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the collision was the consequence of several violations on part of the Chinook crew who was attempting to land on an helipad located 300 meters to the left of the main runway. The following findings were reported:
- The crew failed to contact ground control at Camp Evans AFB prior to its arrival,
- The crew was not authorized to approach Camp Evans AFB at that time,
- The crew failed to respect the maximum altitude of 180 meters fixed for helicopters in that area and was approaching at a too high altitude of 335 meters,
- The crew was approaching Camp Evans from a non assigned approach path for helicopters.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A on Wake Island: 11 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
Operator:
Registration:
55-3133
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Andersen - Hickam - Loring
MSN:
17249
YOM:
1957
Location:
Wake Island
United States Minor Outlying Islands
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
52
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Aircraft flight hours:
6681
Circumstances:
En route from Andersen AFB (GUam Island) to Hickam, Honolulu, the crew reported engine problems and the captain decided to divert to Wake Island Airport. On short final, the aircraft was too low and struck approach lights. On impact, the empennage was torn off and the aircraft crashed in flames. Eleven passengers were killed while 45 other occupants were rescued. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine problems in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-118A Liftmaster in Trabzon

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-118 Liftmaster
Operator:
Registration:
53-3243
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
44614/537
YOM:
1955
Location:
Trabzon
Black Sea Region (Karadeniz Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered an accident at Trabzon Airport. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar in Wilmington: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wilmington – Otis
Location:
Wilmington
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Wilmington-Clinton County Airport, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames in a field. It was engaged in a flight to Otis AFB, carrying 11 military personnels and 20 civilians. Six members of the 907 TAG were killed.
Those killed were:
T/Sgt William B. Hansford III,
Sgt Ernest L. Arehart,
Sgt Richard N. Hall,
Sgt David A. Husinga,
A1C Paul L. Ruschau,
A1C Michael L. Wiford.

Crash of a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II near Recife: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1968 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-124 Globemaster II
Operator:
Registration:
51-5178
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Paramaribo - Recife
MSN:
43588
YOM:
1951
Location:
Recife
Pernambuco
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew started the descent to Recife-Guararapes Airport by night when at an altitude of 1,890 feet, the four engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located some 80 km northwest of Recife. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 10 crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew apparently started the descent prematurely.
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