Military

Operator:

Registration:

63-7785

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Cam Ranh Bay – Kadena

MSN:

3852

YOM:

1963

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The four engine aircraft was on its way from Cam Ranh Bay to Kadena AFB, Okinawa, carrying a crew of eight. While cruising along the Vietnam shore, about 72 km northeast of Nha Trang, the airplane suffered an in-flight explosion and crashed into the sea off Phú Hiệp. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Cdr Ralph Burton Cobbs,
Lt Donald Edwin Siegwarth,
Lt Clement Olin Stevenson,
Lt Edward Leon Romig,
AN M. J. Savoy,
YN2 Jack Ishum Dempsey,
ADJ2 Curtis David Collette,
ADR2 Stanley Jon Freng.

Probable cause:

It was suspected that the airplane had been sabotaged by Vietnamese communist sympathizers who worked at the base.

Crash of a Douglas B-26C Invader in Chile: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1966

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

812

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Santiago - Antofagasta

MSN:

7050

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances while completing a flight from Santiago to Antofagasta. The airplane crashed in a mountainous area, killing both pilots.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Kadena AFB: 12 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1966 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

57-1444

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings

Schedule:

Kadena - Yokota

MSN:

17515

YOM:

1958

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

3387

Circumstances:

The aircraft was engaged in a special flight from Kadena AFB to Yokota AFB, carrying a spare engine to repair another KC-135 grounded at Yokota Airbase. During the takeoff roll, after a course of 2,100 meters, the crew started the rotation when the airplane stalled and struck the runway surface before taking off again. Once it reached the height of 100 feet, it stalled again and crashed in a huge explosion 100 meters to the left of the extended centerline and about 150 meters past the runway end. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed as well as one motorist on the ground.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the total weight of the aircraft was high at the time of the accident and the pilot-in-command started the rotation prematurely, causing the aircraft to stall and to crash due to an insufficient takeoff speed.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon in Niassa Province

Date & Time: May 12, 1966

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed P-2 Harpoon

Operator:

Registration:

4610

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

15-1408

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing in the Niassa Province. There were no injuries but the aircraft was not repairable.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings C.1 in El Adem

Date & Time: May 4, 1966

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

TG575

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

MSN:

YOM:

1949

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The right main gear collapsed on landing. The airplane came on its belly and the other undercarriage failed as well. The airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames. There were no injuries and the fire was quickly contained but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right main gear on landing.

Crash of a Lockheed CC-130B Hercules in North Battleford

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1966

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

10304

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Rivers - North Battleford

MSN:

3590

YOM:

1960

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On a flight from Rivers AFB, Manitoba, to North Battleford, a technical failure occurred on the front cargo door that detached in flight. The crew decided to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft eventually completed a belly landing in a field located near North Battleford, slid for several yards and came to rest. There were no injuries among the crew while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair. After the accident, the engine number one could not be stopped, probably after being hit by debris.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules in Pleiku: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1966 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

61-0953

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Schedule:

Saigon – Pleiku

MSN:

3630

YOM:

1961

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Pleiku Airport by night, the aircraft struck the ground few hundred yards short of runway and came to rest. Three crew members were killed while two others were injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The crew was completing one of his first rotation on this airport at the time of the accident. Visibility was poor due to the night and marginal weather conditions.
Lt Col Lee Bernard Tate,
1st Lt John Lawrence Banks,
A1C Ronald Charles Logan.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-85-DL in Laos

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1966

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

L2-18/00

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Chiang Mai - Udorn

MSN:

20053

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was reported missing whilst en route from Chiang Mai to Udorn. It became lost and is reported to have crashed in northeastern Laos. Flight mechanic Prapan Siri-on was released from a Vietnamese PoW camp in March 1973 and claimed the C-47 had been shot down near Quang Biu. The fate of the remaining crew is unclear.
Source: ASN

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules in Tuy Hòa

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1966

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

56-0506

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site: