All Vietnam | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While approaching the coast to land on an unknown airport, the crew was unable to locate the airfield due to thick fog. The captain evacuated the area and flew over the sea when few minutes later, he ordered all 16 crew members to bail out and to abandon the aircraft that crashed into the sea. 15 occupants were rescued while one was killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-10-BW Stratofortress into the Gulf of Tonkin

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Operator:

Registration:

55-0056

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

U-Tapao - U-Tapao

MSN:

464008

YOM:

1955

Location:

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Circumstances:

While flying over Vinh in North Vietnam, the airplane was hit by a SA-2 surface-to-air missile. The captain decided to evacuate the target area but with two engines out of service, electric and hydraulic systems out, he ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. The airplane crashed into the Gulf of Tonkin and all six crew members, wounded, were evacuated by the crew of a USAF HH-53 helicopter and USMC CH-46 helicopter.
Crew:
Lt Col Gerald Wickline, pilot,
Cpt William "Bill" F. Milcarek, copilot,
Cpt Myles McTernan, navigator,
Maj Roger A. Klingbeil, radio navigator,
Cpt William E. Fergason, EWO,
T/Sgt Carlos S. Killgore, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Beechcraft King Air 90 in Vietnam: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1971 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

Registration:

67-18065

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

LM-066

Location:

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Crash of a Grumman C-2A Greyhound into the Gulf of Tonkin: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1970

Type of aircraft:

Grumman C-2A Greyhound

Operator:

Registration:

155120

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

USS Ranger - USS Ranger

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Just after being catapulted from the USS Ranger (CVA-61), the airplane stalled and crashed into the Gulf of Tonkin, some 130 km northeast of Đà Nẵng. The aircraft was lost and all nine occupants have been killed.
Crew:
Lt Meril Olen McCoy,
Lt(jg) Anthony J. Piersanti,
P03 Clyde Chilton Owen,
AMS3 John Frank Szlapa.

Probable cause:

It is believed the loss of control may have been caused by the cargo that shifted at liftoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-85-DL in South Vietnam: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1970

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-15583

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

20049

YOM:

1944

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Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in South Vietnam while completing a local training mission. The crew lost control of the airplane following an in-flight engine failure. A crew member was killed while three others were injured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Grumman E-2A Hawkeye into the Gulf of Tonkin: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1970

Type of aircraft:

Grumman E-2C Hawkeye

Operator:

Registration:

151711

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

A031

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

While completing a maritime patrol flight and while cruising 112 km off Đồng Hới, the crew informed ground about fire in the cockpit and elected to return to USS Coral Sea. Shortly later, the airplane crashed into the Gulf of Tonkin. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt(jg) Charles Brooks Pfaffmann,
Lt Larry Coleman Knight,
SN Brian Lee Bushnell,
SN Andrew Anthony Horchar,
AMEC Jack Lee Wright.

Crash of a Grumman C-2A-05-GR Greyhound into the Gulf of Tonkin: 26 killed

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1969 at 0710 LT

Type of aircraft:

Grumman C-2A Greyhound

Operator:

Registration:

152796

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Subi Point - USS Constellation

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The Greyhound was completing a troop transfer from Subi Point, Philippines, to the USS Constellation aircraft carrier. While approaching the navy ship, the airplane went out of control, dove into the sea and disintegrated on impact. Quickly on the scene, about 15 km from the ship, rescuers found some debris floating on water and an oil slick. None of the 26 occupants survived the crash.
Crew:
Lt Herbert Hugh Dilger,
Lt Richard Allen Livingstone,
P03 Paul Kierstead Moser,
P03 Michael James Tye,
P03 Rayford Jerome Hill.

Probable cause:

Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the loss of control may have been caused by an engine failure. During investigations, structural problems were reported on the engine nacelles. The CofA of the Greyhound was suspended during the investigations.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in South Vietnam

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

54-0595

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

20044

YOM:

1954

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

After touchdown on an airbase located somewhere in South Vietnam, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a parked helicopter. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Vietnam: 16 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

B-1541

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Schedule:

Phan Rang - Pleiku

Location:

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Vietnam while completing a flight from Phan Rang to Pleiku. All 16 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Grumman US-2C Tracker into the Gulf of Tonkin

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Grumman S-2 Tracker

Operator:

Registration:

133371

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

USS Hornet - USS Hornet

MSN:

238

YOM:

1957

Location:

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Circumstances:

The Tracker was lost while on a logistics flight to the USS Hornet in the Gulf of Tonkin. The aircraft suffered a loss of oil pressure in the starboard engine and the propeller had to be feathered but the aircraft could not maintain altitude and had to be ditched. All four crew members were picked up safely.
Source: Chris Hobson

Probable cause:

Loss of oil pressure on right engine in flight.