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Crash of a Fairchild C-123 off Cape Lisburne: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Elmendorf – Nome – Cape Lisburne
Location:
Cape Lisburne
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a supply mission from Elmendorf AFB to Cape Lisburne with an intermediate stop in Nome, carrying supply for the local weather station. On approach, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and winds gusting up to 28 knots. Control was lost and the airplane crashed into the Chukchi Sea, about 150 feet offshore. All nine occupants were killed, among them two civilians.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-7-FA Provider in Quy Nhơn

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Registration:
54-0644
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20093
YOM:
1954
Location:
Quy Nhơn
Bình Định Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Quy Nhơn Airport. All four crew members survived while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Fairchild UC-123B Provider in Tam Kỳ

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Registration:
56-4378
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chu Lai – Đà Nẵng
MSN:
20262
YOM:
1956
Location:
Tam Kỳ
Quảng Nam Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
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.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules off Phú Hiệp: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
63-7785
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cam Ranh Bay – Kadena
MSN:
3852
YOM:
1963
Location:
Phú Hiệp
Phú Yên Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was on its way from Cam Ranh Bay to Kadena AFB, Okinawa, carrying a crew of eight. While cruising along the Vietnam shore, about 72 km northeast of Nha Trang, the airplane suffered an in-flight explosion and crashed into the sea off Phú Hiệp. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Cdr Ralph Burton Cobbs,
Lt Donald Edwin Siegwarth,
Lt Clement Olin Stevenson,
Lt Edward Leon Romig,
AN M. J. Savoy,
YN2 Jack Ishum Dempsey,
ADJ2 Curtis David Collette,
ADR2 Stanley Jon Freng.
Probable cause:
It was suspected that the airplane had been sabotaged by Vietnamese communist sympathizers who worked at the base.

Crash of a Douglas AC-47D Spooky in Ban Phakat: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-48925
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
14741/26186
YOM:
1944
Location:
Ban Phakat
Savannakhét Province
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While operating a reconnaissance mission out from Ubon over the Khammouane Province of Laos, the airplane was seen to crash in flames near Ban Phakat. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Harding Eugene Smith,
Cpt Theodore Eugene Kryszak,
1st Lt Russell Dean Martin,
T/Sgt Harold Eugene Mullins,
T/Sgt Luther Lee Rose,
S/Sgt Ervin Warren.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Sông Mã River: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
64-0511
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Đà Nẵng - Đà Nẵng
MSN:
3995
YOM:
1964
Location:
Sông Mã River
Thanh Hóa Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew departed Đà Nẵng Airport on a bombing mission over the Thanh Hoa bridge. Following an apparent uneventful mission, it is believed the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Sông Mã River. Nevertheless, no trace of the aircraft nor the eight crew member was ever found.
Crew:
Maj Thomas Franklin Case,
1st Lt Harold Jacob Zook,
Cpt Emmett Raymond McDonald,
Cpt Armon D. Shingledecker,
1st William Rothroc Edmondson,
S/Sgt Bobby Joe Alberton,
AM1C Philip Joseph Stickney,
AM1C Elroy Edwin Harworth.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Kadena AFB: 12 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1966 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
Operator:
Registration:
57-1444
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kadena - Yokota
MSN:
17515
YOM:
1958
Location:
Kadena AFB
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Aircraft flight hours:
3387
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a special flight from Kadena AFB to Yokota AFB, carrying a spare engine to repair another KC-135 grounded at Yokota Airbase. During the takeoff roll, after a course of 2,100 meters, the crew started the rotation when the airplane stalled and struck the runway surface before taking off again. Once it reached the height of 100 feet, it stalled again and crashed in a huge explosion 100 meters to the left of the extended centerline and about 150 meters past the runway end. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed as well as one motorist on the ground.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the total weight of the aircraft was high at the time of the accident and the pilot-in-command started the rotation prematurely, causing the aircraft to stall and to crash due to an insufficient takeoff speed.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker in Amarillo: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1966 at 2145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
Operator:
Registration:
57-1424
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Refuelling
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Amarillo - Amarillo
MSN:
17495
YOM:
1958
Location:
Amarillo
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
3482
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Amarillo Airport following a four-hour refueling mission. On final approach, the aircraft was unstable and banked left and right when it stalled and crashed in flames few dozen yards short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Oscillating and unstable approach for undetermined reason.

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 Douglas AC-47D Spooky near Ban Hai: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-49546
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani
MSN:
15362/26807
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
Spooky 10
Location:
Ban Hai
Xieng Khouang Province
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew departed Ubon Ratchathani Airbase in Thailand on a reconnaissance mission over Laos under call sign 'Spooky 10'. While cruising at low height, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in an isolated area located in the region of Ban Hai. Due to the situation, it was not possible to dispatch rescue teams and the wreckage was eventually found in August 1994 about 16 km southeast of Ban Hai.
Crew:
Maj George William Jensen,
Maj Lavern George Reilly,
Cpt Marshall Landis Tapp,
1st Lt George Winton Thompson,
S/Sgt James Arthur Preston,
Sgt James ellis Williams,
Sgt William Louis Madison,
A1C Kenneth Dewey McKenney.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.
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