Country
code

Khánh Hòa Province

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Sơn Trung: 30 killed

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1992 at 0712 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VN-A449
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Saigon - Nha Trang
MSN:
9 63 18 48
YOM:
1976
Flight number:
VN474
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
30
Aircraft flight hours:
4668
Aircraft flight cycles:
3686
Circumstances:
While descending to Nha Trang Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy rain falls. On approach, the aircraft deviated from the W13 airway by six km when it struck trees, lost height and crashed on the slope of a mountain located 350 metres, about 33 km southwest of Nha Trang. The wreckage was found eight days later at an altitude of 970 metres. A passenger was seriously injured while 30 other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor due to the presence of typhoon 'Forest' approaching the area.
Probable cause:
Following negligences and wrong interpretation of instrument settings, the aircraft deviated from the prescribed W13 airway by 6 km until it impacted the ground.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12BP in Cam Ranh Bay: 31 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1989
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-11875
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cam Ranh Bay - Ho Chi Minh-City
MSN:
7 3 450 06
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
31
Circumstances:
On approach to Ho Chi Minh-City Airport, the crew encountered below minima weather conditions but the captain decided to continue. On short final, as the aircraft deviated from the approach path, the right main gear struck the ground 114 meters short of runway and was torn off. The right outer wing was damaged as well as the propeller n°4 and both hydraulics systems. The crew decided to return to Cam Ranh Bay Airport. Upon landing, the crew feathered the propeller n°1 and after touchdown, the aircraft veered off runway to the left, hit obstacles and came to rest, bursting into flames. Three occupants were seriously injured while 31 others were killed.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider near Nha Trang: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ST-1
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Đà Lạt – Nha Trang
MSN:
20074
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While approaching Nha Trang Airport on a cargo flight from Đà Lạt, the airplane was shot down by a SA-7 surface-to-air missile and crashed 9 km southwest of Nha Trang. The wreckage was found four days later and all nine occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a surface-to-air SA-7 missile.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider near Cam Ranh Bay: 42 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1970 at 0735 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
54-0649
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Phan Rang - Cam Ranh Bay
MSN:
20098
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
39
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
42
Circumstances:
Ten minutes after his departure from Phan Rang Air Base, the pilot started the descent to Cam Ranh Bay via a steep valley (3 km wide and 15 km long) at an altitude of 2,700 feet via heading 30°. Shortly later, ATC instructed the crew to change heading to 100° when contact was lost. The airplane struck trees with its both wings, stalled and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located few km from Cam Ranh Bay Airport. Rescuers arrived on the scene five days later and found two men still alive while 42 other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was nil due to low clouds.
Crew:
Cpt Cecil Gerald Moyer,
Cpt Norbert Albert Podhajsky,
1st Lt James Francis Saxby,
S/Sgt Grayson Henry Newberry,
S/Sgt Harry Allen Watson.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider near Nha Trang: 79 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1970 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-4574
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Saigon - Nha Trang
MSN:
20235
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
73
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
79
Circumstances:
While descending to Nha Trang Air Base on a flight from Saigon, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility and a low ceiling at 2,000 feet. On approach at an altitude of 4,600 feet, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the right wing struck trees. Out of control, the airplane crashed in flames in a wooded area located on the slope of a mountain, some 25 km southwest of the airport. Due to poor weather conditions and the fact that the aircraft crashed in an inaccessible area, the crash site was reached nine days later only. The wreckage was found about 150 feet below the summit and all 79 occupants have been killed. At the time of the accident, ceiling was broken at 2,000 feet and the horizontal visibility was estimated to 1,500 meters.
Crew:
1st Lt Marvin S. Arthington,
Maj Robert Lee Baker,
1st Lt Frederick M. Rader,
T/Sgt William Brandon O'Kieff,
Sgt Allen James Bodin,
A1c Frederick Richard Neff.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in Cam Ranh Bay: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-4527
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Phan Rang – Cam Ranh Bay
MSN:
20188
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching Cam Ranh Bay Airport on a flight from Phan Rang, an engine failed. The crew lost control of the airplane that crashed few km from the airfield. A crew member survived while three others were killed.
Crew:
Maj Grant Reed Waugh, †
Cpt Dwaine Elbyrne Mattox, †
T/Sgt Bernard Francis Morrill, †
+ one crew, name unknown.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by an engine failure on approach.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B in Nha Trang: 34 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-2005
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Saigon - Nha Trang
MSN:
44694
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
70
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Circumstances:
While approaching Nha Trang on a flight from Saigon, the pilot informed ATC about an explosion on board and that control was heavy. The hydraulic system failed so the undercarriage must be lowered manually. The captain decided to perform a low pass over the runway to check the landing gear with ATC. That made, the crew completed a nose high and flapless landing shortly later. After touchdown just over the threshold, the crew activated the reverse thrust systems when the airplane became airborne. So the throttles were closed and the aircraft landed again but too far down the runway. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran, struck a concrete pylon and several obstacles before coming to rest in flames in a popular area. Ten passengers and 24 people on the ground were killed. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a bomb placed in the front left lavatory exploded in flight, causing a 1,5 m hole in the fuselage and damaging the hydraulic lines.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Cam Ranh Bay

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-1814
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3776
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
It is understood that a in-flight fire occurred on board following an electrical short-circuit in the cockpit. The aircraft crash landed at Cam Ranh Bay Airport and came to rest in flames. All six crew members were evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
In-flight fire caused by an electrical short-circuit.

Crash of a Douglas AC-47D Spooky off Cam Ranh Bay: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1967
Operator:
Registration:
43-48921
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
14737/26182
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The Spooky gunship on a night flare mission was flying a normal orbit off the coast near Cam Ranh Bay when it was observed to crash into the sea and explode. All on board the aircraft were killed in the crash, the cause of which was ascertained.
Crew:
Maj Burnett Neal,
Maj Bruce Reginald Williams,
1st Lt Clifford C. Barnett,
S/Sgt Frederick Edward Barnette,
S/Sgt Robert Wendell Davis,
S/Sgt Thomas Alfred Preaux,
A1C Michael Jeff Stephens.