Air America

Flight Type:

Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Đà Nẵng – Huế

MSN:

AF-439

YOM:

1953

Location:

Đà Nẵng

Đà Nẵng City District

Country:

Vietnam

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after his takeoff from Đà Nẵng Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls due to monsoon storm. The twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain and crashed few km from the airport, killing all nine occupants, among them seven educators and a member of the USAID.

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

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N185X

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Đà Nẵng – Quảng Ngãi

MSN:

566

YOM:

1964

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

B-156

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

22353

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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 Curtiss C-46D-20-CU Commando in Kon Tum: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1966 at 1045 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

CA-1

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

MSN:

22367

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

At liftoff at Kon Tum Airport, while in initial climb at a speed of 80 knots, the left engine oversped. The pilot-in-command retracted the landing gear and attempted an emergency landing in an open field located past the runway end. The aircraft belly landed, slid for several yards and struck two people before coming to rest. There were no injuries among the occupants while both people on the ground were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL near Vi Thanh

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1966 at 0740 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

B-929

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Saigon – Vi Thanh

MSN:

19496

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While descending to Vi Thanh Airfield, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crash landed in an open field located 18 km north of the city. All three occupants escaped the accident but both pilots were executed by North Vietnam soldiers while the passenger was interned.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-13-FA Provider in Sayaboury

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1965

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

538

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

MSN:

20199

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

At liftoff, the airplane stalled and landed hard. It went out of control and came to rest. Several passengers were injured while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-16-FA Provider in Long Tieng: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1965

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

N5003X

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

MSN:

20234

YOM:

1955

Location:

Long Tieng

Xieng Khouang Province

Country:

Laos

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Long Tieng Airport, the pilot apparently spotted oil drums on the runway and decided to attempt a go around when control was lost. The airplane stalled and crashed short of runway. Two crew members were seriously injured while the third occupant was killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45G Expeditor in Bao Trái: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1965 at 1510 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N9574Z

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

AF-45

YOM:

1952

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4348

Captain / Total hours on type:

1764.00

Circumstances:

En route, the airplane went into an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field located near Bao Trái. All three occupants were killed.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Saigon: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1965

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N9933Z

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: