Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules near Bardufoss: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1966 at 0130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
61-2641
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Évreux - Bardufoss
MSN:
3677
YOM:
1962
Location:
Bardufoss
Troms
Country:
Norway
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The C-130B, assigned to the 813th Tactical Carrier Wing at Forbes AFB, flew from Évreux AFB (Eure, France) to Bardufoss to pick up troops who would participate in the NATO exercise Winter Express. In snowy weather around freezing temperature with poor visibility the Hercules crashed into Svanfjellet west of Bardufoss at night at a height of 2,650 feet on the island of Senja while approaching Bardufoss Air Station. The crash killed the entire crew, five officers and two enlisted men.
Source: ASN
Probable cause:
According to the Accident Investigation Board, the ATC cleared the crew to descend to 6,000 feet when the crew of the plane repeated an incorrect height clearance. The radar controller at Bardufoss did not perceive the misunderstanding.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 in Tyumen

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-12
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
9 9 012 07
YOM:
1959
Location:
Tyumen
Tyumen oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a military cargo flight and the aircraft was carrying a load of metallic pipes intended for a pipeline construction. During the takeoff roll, the pilot-in-command encountered an unexpected situation and decided to abort. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran and came to rest in a ditch located 50 meters past the runway end. All six crew members were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that prior to takeoff at Tyumen Airport, the crew was instructed to hold for few minutes as an Antonov AN-2 was attempting to land. During this period of time, the crew activated the parking brake and then failed to release it when he was cleared for takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft was unable to rotate because the parking brake was not released and its speed was insufficient, two factors that were not noticed by the crew in due time.

Crash of a Beechcraft UC-45F Expeditor off Rio de Janeiro: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1966 at 0850 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
2842
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
AF-419
YOM:
1953
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Guanabara Bay. Two passengers were rescued while four other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18 in Portage la Prairie

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
Registration:
1488
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
A-663
YOM:
1951
Location:
Portage la Prairie
Manitoba
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in flames in Portage la Prairie. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II on Mt Mulhacén: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-124 Globemaster II
Operator:
Registration:
52-0980
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Morón – Murcia-San Javier
MSN:
43889
YOM:
1952
Location:
Mt Mulhacén
Andalusia
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
On a flight from Morón AFB to Murcia-San Javier AFB, while in cruising altitude, the four engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Mulhacén (3,478 meters high) located in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. All eight crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas LC-47J at Byrd Station: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
50832
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
McMurdo Sound - Byrd Station
MSN:
14938/26383
YOM:
1945
Location:
Byrd Station
All Antarctica
Country:
Antarctica
Region:
Antarctica
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from McMurdo Sound to Byrd Station, carrying a load of 18 fuel drums and a crew of wix who were in charge to pick up scientists at Byrd Station. The approach was performed in poor weather conditions with limited visibility when, at a height of 200 feet, the airplane banked right and crashed in flames. All six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in An Khe: 46 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1966 at 1015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Registration:
54-0702
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
An Khe – Bong Son
MSN:
20151
YOM:
1954
Location:
An Khe
Đà Nẵng City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
42
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
46
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed An Khe on a mission to Bong Son, carrying a crew of four and 42 troops of the 1st Air Cavalry Division who were being taken to Bong Son to take part in Operation Masher, the first division-size search and destroy mission of the war. After takeoff, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height and 10 minutes later, while in clouds, the right wing struck trees. On impact, the right engine and six meters of the right wing were torn off. Out of control the airplane crashed in a wooded area located 10 km from An Khe, killing all 46 occupants.
Crew:
Cpt Harry Richard Crumley,
Cpt Edward Clarence Handly,
S/Sgt Leonard Williams,
S/Sgt Richard Duane Youtsey.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the right engine failed during initial climb, probably after a concentration of magnesium ignited, causing huge damages to the nacelle and the carburetor. It was reported that the crew encountered technical issues with the right engine that failed twice prior to departure. Contributing factors were poor maintenance and poor weather conditions with low clouds down to 300 feet with a limited visibility. The crew was forced to initiate the flight under VFR mode which was not appropriate in such weather conditions.

Crash of an Antonov AN-8 at Lakhta AFB: 20 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-8
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kipelovo - Lakhta
Location:
Lakhta AFB
Arkhangelsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from Kipelovo AFB (Vologda oblast) to Lakhta AFB, south of Arkhangelsk. During the final approach by night, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions when the aircraft struck the ground and crashed few hundred yards short of runway threshold. All 20 occupants were killed, among them 16 high rank officers of the Soviet Navy.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-1 near Yaoundé: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Central African Air Force - Escadrille Centrafricaine
Registration:
TL-KAA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Douala – Yaoundé
MSN:
9124
YOM:
1943
Location:
Yaoundé
Centre
Country:
Cameroon
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while descending to Yaoundé Airport, killing all three crew members.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK on Mt Chelmos: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-93090
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Izmir – Naples
MSN:
12963
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt Chelmos
Peloponnese / Πελοπόννησος
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from Izmir to Naples, Italy, and while cruising over the Peloponnese province, he failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the Chelmos Mountain Range, some 50 km southeast of Patras. The wreckage was found two days later and four occupants were seriously injured while six others were killed.
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