Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules in An Khe: 35 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1967 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
60-0293
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
An Khe – Quy Nhơn
MSN:
3591
YOM:
1960
Location:
An Khe
Đà Nẵng City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
49
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
35
Circumstances:
The Hercules started its takeoff roll for the next leg to Quy Nhơn. Just before the aircraft was about to lift off it suddenly veered to the left and departed the runway. The pilot steered the aircraft back onto the runway but it overshot the end, rand own an embankment and burst into flames. Of the 56 passengers and crew on board a total of 35 were killed, cinlduing US, South Vietnamese and South Korean troops.
Source: Chris Hobson.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in An Khe

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
63-7772
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
3838
YOM:
1963
Location:
An Khe
Đà Nẵng City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff from An Khe Airstrip, while climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames. All five crew members were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed by fire. It was reported that the crew's vision was obscured by dust crated by the rotor of a Chinook.

Crash of a De Havilland CV-2B Caribou near An Khe: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1966
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
Operator:
Registration:
61-2405
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
60
YOM:
1962
Location:
An Khe
Đà Nẵng City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While cruising at low altitude in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a hill located in the region of An Khe. A crew member was killed while two other occupants were rescued.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland CV-2B Caribou in An Khe: 14 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1966
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
Operator:
Registration:
63-9751
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Hammond – An Khe
MSN:
209
YOM:
1964
Location:
An Khe
Đà Nẵng City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
While approaching An Khe Airport on a troop transport flight from Hammond, the airplane was too low. The crew was instructed to perform a go-around and the captain increased engine power when the airplane struck trees, stalled and crashed on Mt Hong Kong located few km west of the airfield. All four crew members and 10 passengers were killed while 18 others were injured.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-13-FA Provider near An Khe: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Registration:
55-4534
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Nha Trang - Nha Trang
MSN:
20195
YOM:
1955
Location:
An Khe
Đà Nẵng City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed Nha Trang Airport for a night time mission to drop flares over friendly positions. While flying at an altitude of 6,500 feet, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire. The crew attempted to divert to the nearest suitable terrain when control was lost. The airplane crashed in flames, killing all five occupants.
Crew:
Cpt Stanley Gilbert Cox,
1st Lt Albert Richard Wilson,
M/Sgt Raymond Charles Jajtner,
A1C William John Moore,
A1C Jerry Mack Wall.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in An Khe: 46 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1966 at 1015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Registration:
54-0702
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
An Khe – Bong Son
MSN:
20151
YOM:
1954
Location:
An Khe
Đà Nẵng City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
42
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
46
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed An Khe on a mission to Bong Son, carrying a crew of four and 42 troops of the 1st Air Cavalry Division who were being taken to Bong Son to take part in Operation Masher, the first division-size search and destroy mission of the war. After takeoff, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height and 10 minutes later, while in clouds, the right wing struck trees. On impact, the right engine and six meters of the right wing were torn off. Out of control the airplane crashed in a wooded area located 10 km from An Khe, killing all 46 occupants.
Crew:
Cpt Harry Richard Crumley,
Cpt Edward Clarence Handly,
S/Sgt Leonard Williams,
S/Sgt Richard Duane Youtsey.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the right engine failed during initial climb, probably after a concentration of magnesium ignited, causing huge damages to the nacelle and the carburetor. It was reported that the crew encountered technical issues with the right engine that failed twice prior to departure. Contributing factors were poor maintenance and poor weather conditions with low clouds down to 300 feet with a limited visibility. The crew was forced to initiate the flight under VFR mode which was not appropriate in such weather conditions.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-12-FA Provider near An Khe: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Registration:
55-4519
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
20180
YOM:
1955
Location:
An Khe
Đà Nẵng City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
On a night supply mission, while cruising at an altitude of 1,200 feet, the airplane collided with a USAF Douglas A-1E Skyraider registered 52-133989 carrying one pilot who was pulling up into the path of the Provider following a VC position attack. Both aircraft went out of control and crashed near An Khe. All seven crew members in both aircraft were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Warren Lester Anderson,
Cpt Herman Hiram Ritchie,
T/Sgt Thomas Anthony Fodaro,
T/Sgt Irwin Lewis Hoffman,
S/Sgt Byron Hugh Crotwell,
S/Sgt Edward Joseph Hincewicz.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the collision could not be determined with certainty. However, it was reported that the Provider was not equipped with suitable instruments for a night mission (insufficient avionics). A poor ground radar coverage was also considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules in An Khe

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
61-0970
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Saigon - An Khe
MSN:
3667
YOM:
1962
Location:
An Khe
Đà Nẵng City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at An Khe Airport, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. All five crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was written off. The airplane was completing a resupply mission from Saigon.
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