Military | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While descending to Fairchild AFB on a flight from Hickam Field, Hawaii, the airplane was too low and the struck the slope of Mt Shadow (4,337 feet high) located 40 miles northwest of Fairchild AFB. The airplane struck trees and disintegrated on impact, killing all nine crew members.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland U-6A near Kabinburi

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1966

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Operator:

Registration:

51-16565

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

375

YOM:

1952

Location:

Kabinburi

Prachin Buri (ปราจีนบุรี)

Country:

Thailand

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Kabinburi Airstrip, the engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in a wooded area and was destroyed. Both pilots were injured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver AL1 in Broad Chalke

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1966

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Operator:

Registration:

XP770

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1440

YOM:

1960

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after take off from a field in Broad Chalke, southeast of Salisbury, Wiltshire, the aircraft failed to gain sufficient altitude. The Beaver hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area. While the pilot was slightly injured, the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

It appears that flaps had been set in the cruise position instead of the take off position.

Crash of an Antonov AN-8 at Chirchik AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1966

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-8

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Andijan - Chirchik

Location:

Chirchik AFB (Tashkent)

Tashkent Province (Toshkent viloyati)

Country:

Uzbekistan

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a military cargo flight from Andijan, carrying a load of ammunitions. On final approach to Chirchik AFB, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the pilot-in-command failed to realize his altitude was too low. The airplane struck the ground and crashed in flames short of runway threshold. A crew member was seriously injured while six other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Too low approach on part of the pilot-in-command.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 1 in Nueva Escocia: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1966

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.104 Dove

Operator:

Registration:

T-66

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

04145

YOM:

1948

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While descending to Villa Reynolds Airport, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances in a prairie located about 30 km west of Villa Reynolds Airport. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B in Saigon: 31 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1966 at 1920 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

44-76574

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Saigon - Korat

MSN:

16158/32906

YOM:

1945

Location:

Saigon

Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh City District

Country:

Vietnam

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport, while climbing, the crew informed ground about the failure of the left engine and elected to return for a safe landing. On final approach, as he was unable to lower the landing gear, the captain decided to make a go-around and completed a circuit. While on a second approach, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a rice paddy field located few km from the runway threshold. All 25 passengers and 6 crew members were killed. The left propeller was feathered at the time of impact.
Crew:
Cpt Karl David Sobolik,
Lt Col William Affley Lynch,
Cpt Carroll Gene Hogeman,
Cpt John Richard Humphrey,
Cpt Joe H. Trickey,
S/Sgt Alan Ralph Steffen.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine after takeoff.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-17-FA Provider in Dầu Tiếng

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1966

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

56-4367

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Dầu Tiếng - Dầu Tiếng

MSN:

20251

YOM:

1956

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was engaged in a paradropping mission, carrying 35 paratroopers and two pilots. Shortly after takeoff from Dầu Tiếng Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. Hydraulic lines were ruptured and the fluid caught fire. The crew was able to make a circuit to return for an emergency belly landing. The airplane belly landed and came to rest onto runway. All 37 occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.