Đắk Lắk Province | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While in cruising altitude on a flight from Saigon to Đà Nẵng, the four engine aircraft disappeared from radar screens. The crew was unable to send any distress message. The wreckage was found few hours later about 24 km south of Buôn Ma Thuột and all 62 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. An explosion from an unknown origin occurred in the cargo hold, between both wings, causing a brutal decompression of the cabin and the explosion of the airplane. The assumption that the detonation was caused by an explosive device was not ruled out.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Buôn Ma Thuột: 23 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1968 at 0600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

45-0934

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Saigon – Đà Nẵng – Hong Kong

MSN:

16937/34196

YOM:

1945

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Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet on a flight from Saigon to Đà Nẵng, the right engine failed. The crew was unable to feather the propeller nor to maintain the assigned altitude so the captain decided to divert to Buôn Ma Thuột Airport. While descending, the airplane went out of control and crashed at an altitude of 700 meters on a plateau located 18 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 23 occupants were killed, among them two US civilians.
Crew:
Lt Col Howard Elmer Van Vliet,
Lt Col Robert Brooks Richardson,
Lt Col Council Lee Royal,
Maj Gerald Eugene Burgener,
Maj Basil Lincoln Ciriello,
Maj Gerald Dean Ziehe,
Cpt Gayland Omer Scott,
M/Sgt William Parker Bowman,
T/Sgt Donald William Bruck,
T/Sgt Billy Day Morris,
T/Sgt John Derral Thomas,
S/Sgt Eugene William Hendricks.

Probable cause:

Engine failure for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider near Buôn Ma Thuột

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

54-0582

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

20031

YOM:

1954

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances 87 km south from Buôn Ma Thuột, South Vietnam. All five crew members were rescued.

Probable cause:

Crew error.

Crash of a De Havilland U-1A Otter near Buôn Ma Thuột: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1963

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-3 Otter

Operator:

Registration:

58-1690

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

299

YOM:

1959

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Circumstances:

While approaching Buôn Ma Thuột, the single engine aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed on the slope of a wooded hill. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-17-FA Provider near Buon Ma Thuot

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1962

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

56-4366

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Saigon – Buon Ma Thuot

MSN:

20250

YOM:

1956

Location:

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Circumstances:

En route from Saigon to Buon Ma Thuot, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and due to low visibility, the captain decided to reduce his altitude to establish a visual contact with the ground when the airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area. The accident site was located three days later and all four crew members were evacuated by a US Army helicopter. The aircraft was written off.