Country
Vietnam
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Gia Lai Province

Crash of a De Havilland U-1A Otter in Pleiku: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 17, 1967
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
Operator:
Registration:
58-1702
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Nha Trang – Cheo Reo – Pleiku
MSN:
318
YOM:
1959
Location:
Pleiku
Gia Lai Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While approaching Pleiku, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and rain showers. While approaching the airport from the south, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located on Mt Dragon, about 13 km south of Pleiku Airport. SAR operations were conducted but the wreckage was spotted on September 7 only. All four occupants were killed.

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

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1966 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
61-0953
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Saigon – Pleiku
MSN:
3630
YOM:
1961
Location:
Pleiku
Gia Lai Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
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.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules in Pleiku: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
61-0972
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Saigon – Pleiku
MSN:
3669
YOM:
1962
Location:
Pleiku
Gia Lai Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach to Pleiku Airport, at an altitude of 1,200 feet, the airplane was hit by enemy fire and crashed about 5 km from the airfield. All five crew members were killed. The airplane was performing a flight from Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport, carrying a load of 30,000 pounds of detonators.
Crew (463 TCW Mactan, Philippines):
Cpt Richard Joseph Callanan,
Cpt Lee Christopher Dixon,
1st Lt Jon Alfred Greenley,
S/Sgt James Robert Lute,
A2C Lowell Franklin White.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-18-FA Provider near Pleiku: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Registration:
56-4379
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Nha Trang - Pleiku
MSN:
20263
YOM:
1956
Location:
Pleiku
Gia Lai Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a supply drop mission between Nha Trang and Pleiku. While cruising at low height in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain and was destroyed. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (310 ACS):
Maj Samuel Joseph Ganci,
Cpt Alvin James Dimond,
Cpt Terrence Richard Titus,
S/Sgt Paul Glen Dawson,
S/Sgt Merle Edward Estes,
S/Sgt Norman Columbus Williams,
A1C James Anthony Coy.
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