Military

The twin engine airplane left Barranquilla Airport at 2106LT on a flight to Apiay AFB, Villavicencio. While cruising by night at a low altitude, the airplane struck power cables and crashed in flames near La Victoria. All four crew members were killed.

Some of the bases in South Vietnam were among the world's busiest airfields during the height of the war in Southeast Asia. The number of aircraft movements at bases like Đà Nẵng and Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport equalled or exceeded those at major US and European airports. With the huge amount of activity involved it is inevitable that accidents should sometimes occur on the ground. The worst such accident happened in the early hours of 23 March and involved a Marine Corps A-6, which was taking off from Đà Nẵng on a strike mission, and a MAC C-141 Starlifter. The air traffic controller had cleared the Intruder to take off but also unwittingly cleared the C-141 to cross the runway. The Intruder pilot saw the Starlifter at the last moment and tried to veer off the runway to avoid it but the Intruder's port wing sliced through the Starlifter's nose. The Intruder sumersalted onto its back and continued down the runway. The pilot and navigator miraculously escaped death and crawled through their smashed canopy. The aircraft was carrying 16x500lbs bombs and six rocket packs, some of which later exploded in the fire. The C-141 immediately burst into flames igniting its cargo of 72 acetylene gas cylinders, which resulted in a tremendous explosion. All the Starlifter crew died except the loadmaster who managed to escape from one of the aft doors before the aircraft exploded. The identity of the crewmen who survived remains unknown.
Crew:
Cpt Harold Leland Hale,
Cpt Leroy Edward Leonard,
Cpt Max Paul Starkel,
S/Sgt Alanson Garland Bynum,
S/Sgt Alfred Funck.
Source: Chris Hobson

Crash in unknown circumstances near Phan Rang while completing an administrative service from Cam Ranh Bay to Saigon. All 25 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt Cdr Leo Claude Hester,
Lt Cdr Robert George Kerr,
AN Francis Raymond Ferron,
ADR2 Cecil Leroy Chapman.

Suffered a ground accident at Tachikawa Airbase. No casualties.

While cruising side-by-side with a second USAF Invader registered 64-17668, the airplane was hit by enemy fire and the right wing caught fire. The crew from the second aircraft bailed out before both aircraft collided and crashed. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Dwight Stanley Campbell,
Cpt Robert Lee Sholl.

While cruising side-by-side with a second USAF Invader registered 64-17669, the airplane was hit by enemy fire and the right wing caught fire. The crew from the second aircraft bailed out before both aircraft collided and crashed. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt James L. McCluskey,
Cpt L. Michael Scruggs.

The twin engine aircraft departed Curitiba Airport at 1000LT with an ETA in Lages at 1130LT. About half into the flight, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located in Rio do Sul. The wreckage was found few hours later and all seven occupants have been killed.

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Yucatán while on a flight from Santa Lucía Airbase to Cozumel. All three crew members were killed.

Shortly after takeoff from runway 07 at Wiesbaden-Erbenheim AFB, while climbing, one of the engine lost power. The airplane lost height and crash landed in a field located in Breckenheim, about 6 km northeast of the airfield. All four crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was partially destroyed by fire.

While on defoliation mission, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed 8 km southwest of Xepon. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Roy Robert Kubley,
Maj Lloyd Francis Walker,
Cpt Harvey Mulhauser,
Lt Howard Leroy Barden,
A1C Ronald Kazuo Miyazaki.