Crash of a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II near Paramaribo: 11 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1972 at 1800 LT
Operator:
Registration:
52-1055
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Paramaribo – Memphis
MSN:
43964
YOM:
1952
Country:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew started the descent to Paramaribo-Zanderij Airport in poor weather conditions when the four engine airplane struck a hill (1,716 feet high) located 68 km southeast of its destination. The aircraft was destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed. For unknown reason, the crew started the descent prematurely and continued the approach below the minimum descent altitude.
Probable cause:
Crew error.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in An Lộc: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-1797
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Saigon - Saigon
MSN:
3748
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a resupply mission over the region of An Lộc. While flying at an altitude of 500 feet, on its way back to Saigon, the airplane was shot down by ground fire and crashed in flames in a prairie. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Donald Lee Unger,
Cpt Alexander Melver,
1st Lt Thomas Carl Widerquist,
S/Sgt Lester Bracey,
S/Sgt Joseph Clifford Hopper,
S/Sgt Freddie Leon Slater.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Fairchild AC-119K Flying Boxcar near An Lộc: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1972
Operator:
Registration:
53-7826
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Biên Hòa - Biên Hòa
MSN:
11239
YOM:
1953
Flight number:
Stinger 41
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed Biên Hòa Airport on a mission to An Lộc under callsign Stinger 41. While circling over An Lộc at an altitude of 4,700 feet, the starboard wing was hit by ground fire. The captain reduced his altitude and lower the gear in an attempt to make an emergency landing. This caused high drag and the airplane lost altitude. Seven crew members bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that crash 8 km from An Lộc. All three crew members who remained on board were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Terrance Francis Courtney, †
Lt Jim Barkalow,
Cpt David Roddy Slagle, †
Lt Col Tashioglou,
Lt Larry Barbee,
S/Sgt Bare,
S/Sgt Kenneth R. Brown, †
S/Sgt Dale Iman,
S/Sgt Ski Sledzinski,
A1c Craig Corbett.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in An Lộc: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
64-0508
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Saigon - Saigon
MSN:
3992
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew departed Saigon-Tan Son Nhat on a supply dropping mission in the region of An Lộc. While approaching the target zone at an altitude of 500 feet and at a speed of 170 knots, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. It went out of control and crashed 1,5 km southwest of An Lộc. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Harry Arlo Amesbury,
1st Lt Kurt Frederick Weisman,
1st Lt Richard Lee Russell,
T/Sgt Donald Russell Hoskins,
S/Sgt Calvin Coolidge Cooke,
S/Sgt Richard Edward Dunn.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Lai Khê

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
63-7775
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Saigon - Saigon
MSN:
3841
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Saigon on a supply dropping mission to An Loc. While flying at low height and high speed, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. The crew elected to return to Saigon when few minutes later, the right wing caught fire. The captain attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in flames in a swampy area. All five occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Emergency landing after being shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-80-BO Stratofortress at McCoy AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1972 at 1120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0625
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
McCoy - McCoy
MSN:
17308
YOM:
1956
Flight number:
SIR 21
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at McCoy AFB, Orlando, Florida. En route, a fire erupted on engine n°7 and the captain decided to return to McCoy AFB for an emergency landing. On final approach to runway 18R, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames onto several houses located one mile north of the airfield. The aircraft and four houses were totally destroyed and all seven crew members were killed. On ground, eight people were seriously injured, among them seven children. Three days after the accident, Anthony Ellington aged 10 died from his injuries.
Crew:
Cpt Wendell W. Campbell, pilot,
Cpt Barry E. Applebee, copilot,
1st Lt Robert Heatherly, navigator,
Lt Col George P. Gamache, navigator,
Maj James J. Hammons,
Maj William E. Kesler,
M/Sgt Allen H. Murray.
Probable cause:
Engine failure and fire for unknown reason.

Crash of a Lockheed AC-130E Hercules near Salavan

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
69-6571
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
4345
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
15
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Engaged in a military mission on the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos, the aircraft was hit by ground fire while flying at an altitude of 7,500 feet. The captain elected to return to his base when the right wing caught fire. All 15 occupants bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Lockheed AC-130A Hercules near Xepon: 14 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0044
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani
MSN:
3071
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a military operation along the Ho Chi Minh Trail when it was hit by an SA-2 surface to air missile. Out of control, it crashed 16 km southeast of Xepon. All 14 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D in Lake Charles: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1972
Operator:
Registration:
44-77228
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lake Charles - Lake Charles
MSN:
16812/33560
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Lake Charles Airport. After completing several touch-and-go maneuvers, the airplane approached the airport when it landed very hard. Out of control, it veered off runway to the left then crashed into a covered concourse, the roof of which was about the same height of the windshield of the aircraft. All four crew members were killed. They were based at England AFB.
Probable cause:
The investigation was thorough, with extensive interviews, and it was determined that the accident was the consequence of a pilot error.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Carswell AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
58-0048
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Carswell - Carswell
MSN:
17793/263
YOM:
1959
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Carswell AFB. During the last segment, while trying to land, the right wing dropped and struck the runway surface. The airplane went out of control, cartwheeled and crashed in flames, killing all five crew members.