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Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules off Okinawa: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
56-0516
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
3124
YOM:
1957
Location:
Kadena AFB
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Kadena AFB, while en route to Vietnam, the crew informed ground that two engines failed and was initiating a return. Shortly later, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the ocean some 24 km southeast of Kadena AFB. All 11 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure during climb-out for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules in Long Tieng: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
56-0510
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Nakhon Sawan - Long Tieng
MSN:
3118
YOM:
1957
Location:
Long Tieng
Vientiane Province
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the pilot continued the approach at an insufficient altitude until the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Phou Bai at an altitude of 7,500 feet. All six crew members were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland C-7A Caribou near Dak Seang: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1970
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
Operator:
Registration:
63-9746
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cam Ranh Bay - Cam Ranh Bay
MSN:
200
YOM:
1964
Location:
Dak Seang
Kon Tum Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While conducting a low level dropping mission (ammunitions), the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Julius Patrick Jaeger,
1st Lt Theron Carl Fehrenbach,
T/Sgt Gordon Manson Gaylord.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a De Havilland C-7A Caribou in Dak Seang: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1970
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
Operator:
Registration:
62-4180
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Phù Cát - Phù Cát
MSN:
122
YOM:
1963
Location:
Dak Seang
Kon Tum Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in an ammunitions dropping mission in the region of Dak Seang. While flying at low altitude, the aircraft was struck by enemy fire and crashed in flames, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
Cpt James Anthony Gray,
Maj Frederick W. Dauten,
M/Sgt Russell Leo Klein.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-60-BO Stratofortress at Ellsworth AFB

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1970 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
55-0089
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ellsworth - Ellsworth
MSN:
17205
YOM:
1955
Location:
Ellsworth AFB
South Dakota
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The B52 of the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, crashed and was destroyed after a landing accident. It caught fire and skidded into a brick storage building containing six 25,000 gallon tanks (150,000 total) of jet fuel. The firemen did a fantastic job in saving the crew member (the navigator) who was trapped inside the nose section that had broken off for almost an hour before being freed. The fire truck rammed the gun turret, breaking it off and freeing the tail gunner. Crew:
Cpt Wesley G. Swann, pilot,
Cpt Gary C. Christensen, copilot,
Maj Ralph P. Smiley, radar navigator,
Cpt Curtis L. Christy, navigator,
1Lt James L. Welch, electronic warfare officer,
S/Sgt Charles E. Adkins, gunner,
Maj Harry D. Meehan, instructor navigator,
Lt Col Paul R. Houser, 28th Bomb Wing Chief of Operations,
A1C Randall Hart, avionics maintenance.
Source: ASN

Crash of a De Havilland C-7A Caribou in Dak Seang: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1970
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
Operator:
Registration:
61-2406
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Phù Cát - Phù Cát
MSN:
68
YOM:
1962
Location:
Dak Seang
Kon Tum Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in an ammunitions dropping mission in the region of Dak Seang. While flying at an altitude of 400 feet, the aircraft was struck by enemy fire. It flew for several seconds before crashing in flames 8 km further. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Steve Warren Train,
1st Lt Charles E. Suprenant,
M/Sgt Dale Elling Christensen.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Rockwell T-39A-1-NO Sabreliner in Madrid: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell T-39 Sabreliner
Operator:
Registration:
62-4460
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Madrid - Madrid
MSN:
276-13
YOM:
1962
Location:
Madrid-Torrejón AFB
Madrid
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
7352
Circumstances:
The pilot instructor was sole on board the aircraft and was apparently not authorized to perform such flight. The accident occurred in unknown circumstances near Torrejón Airbase located near Madrid. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Crash of a Fairchild AC-119K Stinger in Đà Nẵng

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
53-3156
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
11167
YOM:
1953
Location:
Đà Nẵng
Đà Nẵng City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Đà Nẵng, both engines failed. The airplane stalled and crashed 2 km short of runway threshold. All 10 occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed. The crew was returning to Đà Nẵng following a reconnaissance mission.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Douglas C-133B-DL Cargomaster near Palisade: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1970 at 0215 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-133 Cargomaster
Operator:
Registration:
59-0530
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Travis - Harrisburg
MSN:
45581
YOM:
1959
Location:
Palisade
Nebraska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While flying over Nebraska by night at an altitude of 23,000 feet on a flight from Travis AFB to Harrisburg, PA, the aircraft suffered an explosion. It entered a dive and crashed in flames in a field located 5 miles northeast of Palisade. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Harold W. Tabor, pilot,
1st Lt Duane D. Burdette, copilot,
S/Sgt Ira E. Bowers, loadmaster,
M/Sgt Joseph P. Tierney, flight engineer,
T/Sgt James J. Clouse, flight engineer.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the explosion of the airplane was the consequence of the presence of a 11 inches crack located above the left side door that broke away in flight, causing an explosive decompression of the cabin. In such conditions, the crew was unable to maintain control of the airplane.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in Phan Rang

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Registration:
54-0688
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20137
YOM:
1954
Location:
Phan Rang
Ninh Thuận Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown at Phan Rang Airport, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane slid for dozen yards, overran and came to rest. All five crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the nose gear upon landing for undetermined reason.
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