Crash of a Douglas VC-47B in Ubon Ratchathani: 9 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1983
Operator:
Registration:
L2-30/07
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
15457/26902
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
After takeoff, the twin engine airplane lost height and crashed onto several houses. All five crew members as well as four people on the ground were killed.

Crash of a Douglas EC-47Q near Salavan: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1973
Operator:
Registration:
43-48636
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani
MSN:
14452/25897
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
Baron 52
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Ubon Ratchathani AFB on a survey flight over the Ho Chi minh Trail to locate tanks. While flying at low height by night, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in an isolated area located 56 km southeast of Salavan. The wreckage was found two days later and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt George Ross Spitz,
1st Lt Robert Edward Bernhardt,
Cpt Arthur Ray Bollinger,
2nd Lt Severo James Primm,
S/Sgt Todd Michael Melton,
Sgt Dale Brandenburg,
Sgt Peter Richard Cressman,
Sgt Joseph Andrew Matejov.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed AC-130A Spectre near Pakse: 14 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0490
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani
MSN:
3098
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Ubon Ratchathani Airbase to attack some trucks on the Ho Chi Minh Trail 12 passengers and a crew of four on board. While cruising at an altitude of 7,800 feet, the airplane was hit by 37 mm anti-aircraft fire. Two crew members parachuted to safety while 14 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Harry Roy Lagerwall, †
Cpt Stanley Neal Kroboth, †
Maj Paul Oswald Meder, †
Maj Francis Anthony Walsh, †
Cpt Joel Ray Birch, †
Cpt Thomas Trammell Hart, †
Cpt Robert Leonel Liles, †
2nd Lt George Duncan MacDonald, †
1st Lt Delmar Ernest Dickens, †
A1C Charles Frederick Fenter, †
T/Sgt Robert Thomas Elliott, †
T/Sgt James Ray Fuller, †
T/Sgt John Quitman Winningham, †
Sgt Richard Williams,
Sgt Carl E. Stevens,
A1C Rollie Keith Reaid. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-35-BW Stratofortress near At Samat: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0677
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani
MSN:
464048
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The heavy bomber aircraft departed Ubon Ratchathani Airport on a mission over Laos and Vietnam. Few minutes after takeoff, while cruising in stormy weather, the airplane was hit by lightning. Several instruments went out of service and shortly later, the left wing caught fire. The airplane went out of control and entered a dive during which a crew member was able to eject safely. He was later recovered and evacuated. Unfortunately, all five other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Thomas W. Reasor, †
Cpt Ronald A. Ashe, †
Maj James E. Hudelson, †
Cpt David J. Price, †
Cpt Joseph L. Ruzicka, †
M/Sgt Eugene C. Gries.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft was struck by lightning, which caused several instruments to be unserviceable. Few seconds later, a fire erupted in the left wing, causing the aircraft to be uncontrollable.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules in the A Shau Valley: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1972 at 2355 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0043
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani
MSN:
3070
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
Spectre 11
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
15
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Ubon Ratchathani Air Base in Thailand on a night armed reconnaissance mission to attack elite NVA forces known to be infiltrating from Laos into South Vietnam along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. While making a second low pass over the target area, the airplane's n°3 engine was hit by a Strela SA-7 missile. The airplane went out of control and crashed in flames in the A Shau Valley. 12 crew members were killed while three others were rescued.
Crew:
Cpt Paul Faris Gilbert, †
Cpt Robert Allan Wilson, †
Cpt Gordon Bocher,
Maj Gerald Francis Ayres, †
Maj Robert Herman Harrison, †
Cpt Mark Giles Danielson, †
2nd Lt Robert Reid,
M/Sgt Jacob Edward Mercer, †
T/Sgt Richard Milton Cole, †
S/Sgt Donald Herman Klinke, †
S/Sgt Larry Jerome Newman, †
S/Sgt Richard E. Nyhof, †
S/Sgt Leon Andrew Hunt, †
S/Sgt Stanley Lawrence Lehrke, †
S/Sgt William P. Patterson.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Lockheed AC-130E Hercules near Salavan

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
69-6571
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
4345
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
15
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Engaged in a military mission on the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos, the aircraft was hit by ground fire while flying at an altitude of 7,500 feet. The captain elected to return to his base when the right wing caught fire. All 15 occupants bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Lockheed AC-130A Hercules near Xepon: 14 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0044
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani
MSN:
3071
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a military operation along the Ho Chi Minh Trail when it was hit by an SA-2 surface to air missile. Out of control, it crashed 16 km southeast of Xepon. All 14 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560A in East Greenwich: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1971 at 0915 LT
Registration:
N87K
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Chatham - Newark
MSN:
560-314
YOM:
1956
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
5000
Captain / Total hours on type:
1300.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a flight from Chatham to Newark, the captain informed ATC about the failure of the left engine and was cleared to divert to the nearest airport located in East Greenwich, east Rhode Island. Unable to maintain a safe altitude, the crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field. A passenger was killed while five other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning on part of the pilot-in-command. The following factors were reported:
- Improper operation of powerplant and powerplant controls,
- Improper operation or failed to use the anti-icing/deicing equipment,
- Conditions conducive to carburetor system icing,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Low ceiling and snow,
- Partial loss of power on one engine,
- Complete engine failure on one engine,
- Left engine lost power, propeller feathered. Unable to maintain safe altitude.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed AC-130A Spectre near Ban Tan Lo: 10 killed

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
54-1625
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani
MSN:
3012
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
Adlib 1
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While in a commando mission along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. A fire erupted on the left wing root and the crew was unable to extinguish the fire. A crew member (S/Sgt Eugene Fields) was able to bail out and was later recovered uninjured while the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed, killing all 10 other occupants.
Crew:
Maj William Leslie Brooks, †
1st Lt John Cline Towle, †
Lt Col Charlie Brown Davis, †
Lt Col Charles Stoddard Rowley, †
Maj Donald Garth Fisher, †
M/Sgt Robert Newell Ireland, †
S/Sgt Thomas Yuji Adachi, †
S/Sgt Eugene Fields,
S/Sgt Stephen Warren Harris, †
S/Sgt Ronnie Lee Hensley, †
A1C Donald Michael Lint. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules near Ban Talan: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0533
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani
MSN:
3141
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Ubon Ratchathani Airport on an orbital control flight at 9,000 feet. En route, the airplane was hit by several rounds of 37 mm flak and burst into flames. Out of control, it dove into the ground and crashed in a mountainous and isolated area. SAR operations were abandoned after few weeks as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The remains of the crew were returned from Laos in November 1993 and positively identified in October 1995.
Crew:
Cpt Earl Carlyle Brown,
1st Lt Peter Richard Matthes,
Maj Michael Dimitri Belamonti,
Cpt Richard Owen Ganley,
S/Sgt Charles Richard Fellenz,
S/Sgt Larry Irwin Grewell,
S/Sgt Donald Lee Wright,
Sgt Rexford John DeWispelaere.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.