Crash of a Fairchild UC-123B Provider in Tam Kỳ

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-4378
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Chu Lai – Đà Nẵng
MSN:
20262
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising at low height, the airplane was struck by enemy fire. The pilot was able to complete an emergency landing in a rice paddy field and all three crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules off Phú Hiệp: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
63-7785
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cam Ranh Bay – Kadena
MSN:
3852
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
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 AC-47D Spooky in Ban Phakat: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1966
Operator:
Registration:
43-48925
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
14741/26186
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While operating a reconnaissance mission out from Ubon over the Khammouane Province of Laos, the airplane was seen to crash in flames near Ban Phakat. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Harding Eugene Smith,
Cpt Theodore Eugene Kryszak,
1st Lt Russell Dean Martin,
T/Sgt Harold Eugene Mullins,
T/Sgt Luther Lee Rose,
S/Sgt Ervin Warren.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Sông Mã River: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
64-0511
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Đà Nẵng - Đà Nẵng
MSN:
3995
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew departed Đà Nẵng Airport on a bombing mission over the Thanh Hoa bridge. Following an apparent uneventful mission, it is believed the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Sông Mã River. Nevertheless, no trace of the aircraft nor the eight crew member was ever found.
Crew:
Maj Thomas Franklin Case,
1st Lt Harold Jacob Zook,
Cpt Emmett Raymond McDonald,
Cpt Armon D. Shingledecker,
1st William Rothroc Edmondson,
S/Sgt Bobby Joe Alberton,
AM1C Philip Joseph Stickney,
AM1C Elroy Edwin Harworth.

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:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kadena - Yokota
MSN:
17515
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
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 Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker in Amarillo: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1966 at 2145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-1424
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Amarillo - Amarillo
MSN:
17495
YOM:
1958
Location:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
3482
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Amarillo Airport following a four-hour refueling mission. On final approach, the aircraft was unstable and banked left and right when it stalled and crashed in flames few dozen yards short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Oscillating and unstable approach for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-13-FA Provider near An Khe: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-4534
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Nha Trang - Nha Trang
MSN:
20195
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed Nha Trang Airport for a night time mission to drop flares over friendly positions. While flying at an altitude of 6,500 feet, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire. The crew attempted to divert to the nearest suitable terrain when control was lost. The airplane crashed in flames, killing all five occupants.
Crew:
Cpt Stanley Gilbert Cox,
1st Lt Albert Richard Wilson,
M/Sgt Raymond Charles Jajtner,
A1C William John Moore,
A1C Jerry Mack Wall.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas AC-47D Spooky near Ban Hai: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1966
Operator:
Registration:
43-49546
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani
MSN:
15362/26807
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
Spooky 10
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew departed Ubon Ratchathani Airbase in Thailand on a reconnaissance mission over Laos under call sign 'Spooky 10'. While cruising at low height, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in an isolated area located in the region of Ban Hai. Due to the situation, it was not possible to dispatch rescue teams and the wreckage was eventually found in August 1994 about 16 km southeast of Ban Hai.
Crew:
Maj George William Jensen,
Maj Lavern George Reilly,
Cpt Marshall Landis Tapp,
1st Lt George Winton Thompson,
S/Sgt James Arthur Preston,
Sgt James ellis Williams,
Sgt William Louis Madison,
A1C Kenneth Dewey McKenney.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119CF-FA Flying Boxcar at Scott AFB

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1966
Operator:
Registration:
51-8019
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Scott - Scott
MSN:
10762
YOM:
1951
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
A Fairchild C-119CF-FA Flying Boxcar transport plane, 51·8019, had undergone a periodic inspection and was dispatched with a minimum crew for a Functional Check Fight (FCF). In the course of conducting checks at an altitude of 5000 feet, the no. 2 prop did not go into full feather. It continued to windmill. The crew then decided to return to Belleville-Scott AFB, IL (BLV) immediately. The pilot requested a straight-in approach to runway 31. Engine no. 2 was shut down and the plane was configured for landing. The airplane was high on the approach so the crew executed a go around and came in for a second approach. This time the airplane was slightly high and too fast so the pilot again called for a go around. During the transition from a high rate of descent to level flight for go around, the airspeed remained around 130 knots IAS. The captain raised the flaps from 40° to 20° and then reached for the gear up switch. The aircraft struck the runway and slid off the end into a grassy field. A fire that ensued after impact was contained by base crash and rescue crews.
Source: ASN

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

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1966 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
61-0953
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Saigon – Pleiku
MSN:
3630
YOM:
1961
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
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.