Flight | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft was engaged in a crop-spraying flight for the sovkhoz (state farm) "Novo-Zolotovski" in the Semikarakorsk district of the Rostov region with one pilot and a local guide on board. While at a height of 20-25 metres, the pilot probably got distracted by the passenger and lost control of the airplane that descended and struck the ground, caught fire and burnt out. While the passenger was killed, the pilot was injured.

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Watertown: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1968 at 1308 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 411

Operator:

The First Electric

Registration:

N7341U

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

411-0041

YOM:

1964

Location:

Watertown

Massachusetts

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

297

Captain / Total hours on type:

100.00

Circumstances:

While flying in poor weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in an open field. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

The pilot continued under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions and suffered a spatial disorientation while flying in foggy conditions and rain falls.

Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Slobodovka: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1968 at 0630 LT

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-45209

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Slobodovka - Slobodovka

MSN:

1G40-38

YOM:

1964

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total hours on type:

87.00

Aircraft flight hours:

3211

Aircraft flight cycles:

12438

Circumstances:

While completing a crop-spraying flight from the airstrip of the sovkhoz (state farm) "Udarna Pratsya" in the Shevchenkovo district of the Kharkov region, the inexperienced captain made a sharp turn to the left at low height when control was lost. The airplane crashed in a field located 2 km northwest of Slobodovka. Both pilots were killed and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the pilot-in-command was inexperienced on this type of aircraft with only 87 flying hours. The accident was the result of errors on part of the pilot-in-command. Poor flight preparation and an insufficient period of rest time were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-16R into the North Sea: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev TU-16

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Severomorsk - Severomorsk

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The strategic bomber departed Severomorsk Airbase on a survey flight over west Europe. While cruising over the North Sea, the crew made two first passes over the USS Essex then a third pass was completed at a very low height. The the pilot-in-command decided to leave the area when control was lost. The airplane crashed into the sea in a huge explosion, killing all six crew members. Debris were found about 240 km west of the Norwegian coast.
Crew:
Cpt Andrey Pliyev +5.

Crash of a Fairchild UC-123K Provider off Xóm Rach Tàu: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

54-0588

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

20037

YOM:

1954

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in an aerial attack of a Viêt Cong camp located at Xóm Rach Tàu, at the extreme south coast of South Vietnam. While cruising at low height, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. The left engine and the left wing caught fire and the crew elected to evacuate the area when the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea few km offshore. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Col Emmet Rucker,
Maj James L. Shanks,
Sgt Herbert E. Schmidt.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules in Muang Nong: 9 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

56-0477

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

3085

YOM:

1957

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was engaged in a flare mission over south Laos when it crashed in a huge explosion in the jungle. All nine crew members were killed and the exact circumstances of the crash was not determined. It may be possible the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire but this was not proven.
Crew:
Lt Col William Henderson Mason,
Cpt Thomas Barry Mitchell,
Maj Jerry Lee Chambers,
Cpt William Thomas McPhail,
S/Sgt Calvin Charles Glover,
Sgt Gary Pate,
A1C John Quincy Adam,
A1C Thomas Edward Knebel,
A1C Melvin Douglas Rash.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Tenginskaya: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 19, 1968 at 1910 LT

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-45228

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Tenginskaya - Tenginskaya

MSN:

1G44-17

YOM:

1964

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

2930

Aircraft flight cycles:

13602

Circumstances:

During a crop-spraying flight for the kolkhoz (collective farm) "Pobeda" in the Ust'-Labinsk district of the Krasnodar region, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that crashed in flames in an open field located near Tenginskaya. Both crew members were killed and the airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of pilot error. It was determined that the last turn was made at a height of 50 meters and sharp to the left in 30° angle and low speed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2M in Maryinka: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1968 at 1545 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-05977

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Nikitskoye - Nikitskoye

MSN:

6 009 19

YOM:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

861

Aircraft flight cycles:

2873

Circumstances:

On a crop-spraying flight from Nikitskoye (Kurkino district of the Tula region) for the sovkhoz (state farm) "Pobeda" when probably the control of the flaps and ailerons failed immediately after take-off. Pilot dropped the load and managed to keep control for some time, but after flying 8 km, aircraft banked to the left, turned upside down and crashed in a field of the sovkhoz (state farm) "Polibino" located 1.5 km northwest of Maryinka (Dankov district of the Lipetsk region). The aircraft caught fire and burnt out and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

The airplane was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and the exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty due to the lack of evidences. Nevertheless, it is believed that the loss of control was caused by a dysfunction of the flaps and/or ailerons for unknown reasons.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter in India: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1968

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-3 Otter

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in India while completing a test flight. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Douglas AC-47D Spooky near Pleiku: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-16159

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Phu Cat - Pleiku

MSN:

20625

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The gunship was engaged in an aerial attack from Phu Cat when it was shot down by enemy fire in the region of Pleiku. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt Col Leslie Earl Harris, †
Maj Teddy James Tomchesson, †
Lt Barry Lynn Brown, †
Cpt Edward Chester Krawczyk, †
S/Sgt James Edgar Bowman, †
Sgt Douglas Joseph Cradeur, †
Sgt Roy Leo Lede. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

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