Crash of a Douglas VC-54D-10-DC in Roi-Namur

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1977 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-72650
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Roi-Namur - Kwajalein
MSN:
10755
YOM:
1945
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a short positioning flight from Roi-Namur Airport (north part of the Kwajalein atoll) to the main airport of Kwajalein located on the south part of the same atoll. During the takeoff roll on runway 04, the captain decided to abort for unknown reason. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest into the sea. The left wing was broken in two and the aircraft was later removed from water but declared as damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries among the 16 occupants.

Special thanks to US Army Louis D. Sutton, PIC on the following US Army C-54 that should takeoff immediately after the accident one, for his testimony.

Crash of a Beechcraft U-21A Ute in the Cook Inlet: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
67-18081
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Elmendorf - King Salmon
MSN:
LM-81
YOM:
1967
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Elmendorf AFB, while cruising in IMC conditions, the crew contacted ATC and requested the permission to obtain a higher level of flight. Shortly later, the airplane went out of control and crashed in the Cook Inlet. Intensive SAR operations were conducted but no trace of the airplane nor the seven occupants was ever found.
Crew:
Cpt Donald W. Deeter, pilot,
CW3 Ralph G. Battle, pilot,
Passengers:
SP4 Paul E. Jones,
Ltc William I. Barrett Jr.,
Ltc John S. Edge,
Maj James W. Nelson,
Maj Melvin J. Swiney.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-4A Caribou on Meck Island

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
66-250
Flight Type:
MSN:
250
YOM:
1969
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Crew fate unknown as well as the exact date of the mishap, somewhere in 1975.

Crash of a Beechcraft U-21A Ute in Fort Stockton: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1975 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
66-18039
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Fort Stockton - Ford Hood
MSN:
LM-40
YOM:
1967
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Fort Stockton Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane bank left then rolled inverted and crashed in flames about half a mile past the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial climb following a loss of power on the left engine for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Silk Hope: 14 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1973 at 0910 LT
Operator:
Registration:
0-50781
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Fort Bragg - Fort Bragg
MSN:
14953/26398
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a training sortie from Fort Bragg-Simmons AAF and was carrying 11 members of the USA Army Parachute Team Golden Knights, two pilots and a crew chief. About an hour after its departure, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane went out of control and crashed in an open field. All 14 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was caused by the fact that the aircraft was overloaded. Apparently, a heavy metal plating floor had been added in Vietnam but not entered in the log book.

Crash of a De Havilland U-6A Beaver at Camp San Luis Obispo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1972 at 1620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
51-16469
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Fort Irwin - Camp San Luis Obispo
MSN:
221
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to Camp San Luis Obispo (Cuesta College), the single engine aircraft struck a warehouse located at the end of the runway. On impact, the left wing was torn off and the airplane veered toward the creek, crashed upside down and caught fire. Both occupants were killed.
Crew:
CW2 Richard F. Race, pilot.
Passenger:
Lt Col Michael A. Nolan.

Crash of a Beechcraft U-8F Seminole in Atlanta: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1972 at 1543 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
61-2430
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
LF-29
YOM:
1961
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On a final VOR approach to Atlanta-Fulton County-Brown Field Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions. The aircraft went out of control and crashed few miles short of runway 08, bursting into flames. A pilot and two passengers were killed while three other occupants were seriously injured. The aircraft was on a round robin IFR service at the time of the accident.
Crew:
Cw3 Lawrence J. Screptock +1.
Passengers:
Ltc Joseph E. Burke Jr.,
Col Lester M. Conger +3.

Crash of a Beechcraft U-21A Ute off Đà Nẵng: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
67-18041
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
LM-42
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 35 at Đà Nẵng Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the Đà Nẵng Bay. The wreckage was found near the Island of Hòn Sơn Chà, some 16 km north of the airport. The aircraft was lost and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control due to an explosion and fire on the right engine during initial climb. The reason of the occurrence remains unknown.

Crash of a Beechcraft JU-21A Letf Jab near Huế: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1971 at 0840 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
67-18065
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Huế - Huế
MSN:
LM-66
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The electronic warfare airplane was engaged in a radio research mission out from Huế-Phu Bai Airport. En route, it was shot down by a surface-to-air missile and crashed near the demilitarized zone (DMZ). All five occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Michael W. Marker, pilot,
Wo1 Harold L. Algaard, copilot.
Passengers:
Sp5 Rodney D. Osborne,
Sp5 Richard J. Hentz,
Sp6 John T. Strawn.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a surface-to-air missile.