Country
code

Quảng Nam Province

Crash of a De Havilland C-7B Caribou in Tiên Phước: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
63-9723
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Phù Cát – Tiên Phước
MSN:
156
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to Tiên Phước, the airplane was hit by a mortal shell. Out of control, it dove into the ground and crashed few km short of runway threshold. The copilot survived while both other occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt David Bicknel Bowling, †
1st Lt R. J. Patterson,
T/Sgt E. J. Welch. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
58-0718
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Saigon – Đà Nẵng
MSN:
3513
YOM:
1959
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While flying in the vicinity of Chu Lai, the airplane exploded in mid-air and crashed in a field, killing all five crew members.
Crew:
Maj Robert Hayes,
Cpt Bruce Cardy,
1st Lt Wendell Curry,
S/Sgt Isaac Corbett,
S/Sgt Norman Sweat.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the explosion remains unknown but there was strong possibility of the aircraft having been a victim of sabotage.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-11-FA Provider near Chu Lai: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
54-0708
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Chu Lai – Đà Nẵng
MSN:
20157
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Chu Lai Airbase, the crew encountered technical difficulties with the fuel transfer system. When engine developed problems, the pilot loss of control of the aircraft that crashed. Three crew members were killed while a fourth occupant was rescued.
Crew:
Cpt Kenneth Roy Crist,
1st Lt Roger Henry Strout,
S/Sgt Jesse John Bradshaw.
Probable cause:
Engine problems caused by fuel transfer issue.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules in Khâm Đức: 155 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1968 at 0720 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
60-0297
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Khâm Đức - Saigon
MSN:
3600
YOM:
1961
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
150
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
155
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Khâm Đức Airfield, while in initial climb, the aircraft was shot down by North-Vietnamese soldiers who were conducting an assault of the airbase. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion some 4 km east of the airfield. All 155 occupants, South-Vietnamese soldiers with their wife and children, were killed. Up to date, this was the worst crash by the USAF and the worst in Vietnam.
Crew:
Maj Bernard Ludwig Bucher,
1st Lt Stephan Craig Moreland,
S/Sgt Frank Monroe Hepler,
A1C George Wendell Long,
Maj John Lee McElroy,
Cpt Warren Robert Orr (was among the passenger).
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules in Khâm Đức

Date & Time: May 12, 1968 at 0720 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0548
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3156
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Khâm Đức Airfield, the aircraft was hit by small artillery and hydraulic systems failed. After touch down, the aircraft was uncontrollable and veered off runway before hitting a parked helicopter. All five crewmen were unhurt but the aircraft was later intentionally destroyed. Crew, from the 21st squadron, was flying to Khâm Đức to evacuate troops on an emergency evacuation process of the camp.
Crew:
Captain Delmore, pilot,
Joe Donahue, copilot.
Thanks to Bill Schneider from the Khâm Đức Group, who added the following comment: the aircraft was guided off the runway on purpose by superior flying skills. It did not catch on fire at that time but was destroyed for good by USAF fighters that destroyed all remaining assets on the ground, including the SF Camp, engineer equipment and anything that could be of any value to the North Vietnam Army. Delmore's crew was picked up just a few minutes later by a USMC CH-46 helicopter.
Probable cause:
Hydraulic failure on approach caused by artillery bullets.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Tam Kỳ: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1967 at 0835 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9475Z
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Quảng Ngãi – Tam Kỳ – Đà Nẵng
MSN:
AF-634
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
2446
Captain / Total hours on type:
725.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was completing a special flight from Quảng Ngãi to Đà Nẵng with an intermediate stop in Tam Kỳ on behalf of the US Air Force. Shortly after takeoff from Tam Kỳ Airport, while climbing, one of the engine failed. The pilot elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane struck a dirt bank and crashed in flames. Four passengers were killed while four other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas AC-47D Spooky in Hội An: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1967
Operator:
Registration:
44-76534
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Đà Nẵng - Đà Nẵng
MSN:
16118/32866
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While on a gunship support missions to outposts, the Spooky was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in a dense wooded area, killing all seven crew members.
Crew:
Cpt William Hadley Hosea,
Cpt Herbert Charles Rice,
Cpt John Bishop Cabana,
S/Sgt John Larue Brim,
S/Sgt James Lewis Fields,
T/Sgt Guy Joseph Brungard,
A1C Robert Edwin Ruonavaara.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/A-H2 Turbo Porter near Chu Lai: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1967
Operator:
Registration:
N185X
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Đà Nẵng – Quảng Ngãi
MSN:
566
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the single engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 11 km west of Chu Lai. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-20-CU Commando in Tam Kỳ

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-156
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
22353
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
32
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a VIP flight within Vietnam, the airplane was struck by enemy fire. The airplane caught fire and the crew elected to make an emergency landing. The aircraft eventually crash landed in an open field and came to rest in flames. All 34 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

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.