Military | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Ten minutes after takeoff from Huế Airport, while climbing in marginal weather conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain (1,850 feet high) located about 10 km from the airfield. The wreckage was found two days later about 150 feet below the summit and all 24 occupants have been killed. It appears the aircraft struck the mountain at a speed of 465 km/h. At the time of the accident, the mountain was shrouded in clouds.
Crew:
Lt Col Christopher Braybrooke,
Maj Robert William Anderson,
Cpt Scott McClelland Burkett,
A1C Terry Michael Rehm,
A2C Ronald Paul Ruyf.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the crew was climbing under VFR mode in marginal weather conditions when the accident occurred.

Crash of a Scottish Twin Pioneer in Muscat

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer

Operator:

Registration:

XM959

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

555

YOM:

1958

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft, based at RAF Sharjah, was landing on a salt/sand runway out on the muscat Oman border. Unfortunately the captain did not see the hole made by a Beverley and consequently the Twin finished up on its nose. There were no injurie but the aircraft was written off. Thanks to James Caister for his testimony.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider near Bảo Lộc: 11 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

54-0621

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Biên Hòa – Bảo Lộc – Nha Trang

MSN:

20070

YOM:

1954

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a flight from Biên Hòa to Nha Trang with an intermediate stop at Bảo Lộc. While on approach, the pilot-in-command failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck the slope of a wooded mountain located some 19 km southwest of Bảo Lộc Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt Col Merle Deane Turner,
Cpt Edward Louis Goucher,
A1C james Russell Mayo.

Probable cause:

It was determined the accident was the consequence of a pilot error as he started the approach prematurely, causing the aircraft to descend below the minimum safe altitude.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando at Howard AFB: 9 killed

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

44-77552

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

32948

YOM:

1944

Location:

Howard AFB (Panama City)

Panamá

Country:

Panama

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Howard AFB, the airplane stalled and crashed, killing all nine crew members.

Crash of a Breguet Bre.1150 Atlantic in Mt Prins Karls Forland: 11 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1967 at 0337 LT

Type of aircraft:

Breguet Bre.1150 Atlantic

Operator:

Registration:

39/F-XCVB

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Kinloss - Kinloss

MSN:

Location:

Mt Prins Karls Forland

Svalbard

Country:

Norway

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was engaged in a NATO exercise over the north of Europe. Shortly after midnight, the crew informed ground about his position. While cruising by night and limited visibility, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Prins Karls Forland at a speed of 320 km/h in a slight nose-up attitude, in the west part of Svalbard archipelago. The wreckage was spotted by the crew of a Norwegian Air Force HU-16 Albatross a day later about 500 feet below the summit. All 11 crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Dassault M.D.312 Flamant in Nohant-en-Graçay: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Dassault M.D.315 Flamant

Operator:

Registration:

171

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

171

YOM:

1950

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all five occupants.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2M in Chynów

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1967

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

635

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1G36-35

YOM:

1963

Location:

Chynów

Masovian Voivodeship (Mazowieckie)

Country:

Poland

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing following an engine failure in flight. The airplane crash landed in a field and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Tam Kỳ: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1967 at 0835 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Operator:

Registration:

N9475Z

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Quảng Ngãi – Tam Kỳ – Đà Nẵng

MSN:

AF-634

YOM:

1954

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2446

Captain / Total hours on type:

725.00

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft was completing a special flight from Quảng Ngãi to Đà Nẵng with an intermediate stop in Tam Kỳ on behalf of the US Air Force. Shortly after takeoff from Tam Kỳ Airport, while climbing, one of the engine failed. The pilot elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane struck a dirt bank and crashed in flames. Four passengers were killed while four other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure after takeoff for undetermined reason.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland U-1A Otter in Pleiku: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 17, 1967

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-3 Otter

Operator:

Registration:

58-1702

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Nha Trang – Cheo Reo – Pleiku

MSN:

318

YOM:

1959

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Pleiku, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and rain showers. While approaching the airport from the south, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located on Mt Dragon, about 13 km south of Pleiku Airport. SAR operations were conducted but the wreckage was spotted on September 7 only. All four occupants were killed.