Country
code
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh City District
Crash of a Tupolev TU-134AK-1 in Ho Chi Minh-City
Date & Time:
Jan 12, 1991
Operator:
Registration:
VN-A126
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bangkok - Ho Chi Minh-City
MSN:
60435
YOM:
1978
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
72
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the last segment on approach to Ho Chi Minh-Ville-Tan Son Nhat Airport, at a height of about 30 feet, the aircraft lost height, causing the left main gear to struck the ground short of runway threshold. The aircraft then landed hard and came to a halt on the main runway. All 79 occupants were evacuated, among them five passengers were injured.
Probable cause:
It is believed the aircraft lost height on short final due to an insufficient speed.
The following contributing factors were reported:
- Poor planned approach on part of the crew.
- Poor crew coordination.
- Lack of supervision and crew cross checks.
The following contributing factors were reported:
- Poor planned approach on part of the crew.
- Poor crew coordination.
- Lack of supervision and crew cross checks.
Ground explosion of a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle III in Ho Chi Minh: 1 killed
Date & Time:
Aug 28, 1976
Operator:
Registration:
F-BSGZ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ho Chi Minh – Bangkok
MSN:
83
YOM:
1961
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While parked at Ho Chi Minh-City Airport, the airplane was hijacked by a Vietnamese passenger. All 19 occupants were quickly released and when police forces approached the aircraft, the hijacker set off two grenades that exploded in the cabin. The hijacker was killed and the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Explosion of two grenades in the cabin after the aircraft has been hijacked.
Crash of a Lockheed C-5A Galaxy in Saigon: 155 killed
Date & Time:
Apr 4, 1975 at 1630 LT
Operator:
Registration:
68-0218
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Saigon - Clark - Los Angeles
MSN:
500-0021
YOM:
1970
Crew on board:
16
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
314
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
155
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a humanitarian flight, taking part to the 'Operation Babylift', a mission consisting to bring Vietnamese orphans back to the US in the few remaining days before the Republic of Vietnam fell. At 1603LT, the airplane departed Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport bound to the east. Twelve minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 23,000 feet over the South China Sea, a technical issue occurred on the rear access ramp doors followed by a rapid decompression of the cabin. A crew member fell out of the airplane and shortly later, the access ramp door detached and fell into sea as well. The captain contacted ATC, declared an emergency and was cleared to return to Saigon Airport. At that time, two of the four hydraulic systems were out of order and control and trim cables to the rudder and elevators were severed, leaving only one aileron and wing spoilers operating. Nevertheless, the crew was able to descend to runway 25L when the rate of descent increased to 4,000 feet per minute. The airplane struck the ground a first time at a speed of 250 knots about 4 km short of runway 25L, bounced for three seconds and then crashed 500 meters further in a rice paddy field. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and debris scattered on a wide area. There were on board 149 orphans, 10 members of a medical team, 155 military personnels and 16 crew members. It was reported that 141 orphans were killed as well as six soldiers, five crew members and three of the medical team. The United States Navy amphibious cargo ship USS Durham, frigate USS Reasoner and command ship USS Blue Ridge were assigned to search for the flight data recorder in the South China Sea. The recorder was found and US Navy ships and helicopters also discovered debris from the doors in the South China Sea as well as the body of a crew member.
Probable cause:
When the rear doors were eventually recovered from the sea, investigation determined that some of the locks had not engaged properly. Maintenance records showed that locks had been cannibalized for spares, then subsequently improperly refitted so that not all the door locks were engaging correctly. Accounts also indicated the initial maintenance inspection noticed 5 of the 7 locks were not operating and failed the aircraft for flight. With external organizational pressure to get the flight airborne, a second off-shift maintenance team was called in. They subsequently missed the locks during inspection and the aircraft was cleared for flight. Furthermore, the flight crew confirmed that they had encountered difficulty closing the doors before takeoff. As the air pressure differential increased with altitude, the few locks that were working correctly were unable to bear the load, and the door failed.
Crash of a Fairchild AC-119G Flying Boxcar in Saigon: 6 killed
Date & Time:
Apr 27, 1970
Operator:
Registration:
53-8155
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
258
YOM:
1953
Flight number:
Shadow 78
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport, while in initial climb at a height of 100 feet, one of the engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed about 3 km from the airfield. Six crew members were killed while two others were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Crew:
1st Lt Thomas Lambert Lubbers,
1st Lt Charles Milford Knowles,
Maj Meredith Glenn Anderson,
Maj Robert Bokern,
M/Sgt Joseph Cobden Jeszeck,
S/Sgt Allen Chandler,
S/Sgt Robert Frederick Fage,
Sgt Michael J. Vangelisti.
Crew:
1st Lt Thomas Lambert Lubbers,
1st Lt Charles Milford Knowles,
Maj Meredith Glenn Anderson,
Maj Robert Bokern,
M/Sgt Joseph Cobden Jeszeck,
S/Sgt Allen Chandler,
S/Sgt Robert Frederick Fage,
Sgt Michael J. Vangelisti.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb.
Crash of a Fairchild AC-119G Flying Boxcar in Saigon: 6 killed
Date & Time:
Oct 11, 1969
Operator:
Registration:
52-5907
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
11074
YOM:
1952
Flight number:
Shadow 76
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport, while climbing, an engine failed and caught fire. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in a huge explosion. Six of the 10 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the airplane was carrying a load of ammunitions.
Those killed were:
Lt Col Bernard Richard Knapic,
Maj Moses Lopes Alves,
Maj Jerome James Rice,
Cpt John Hooper V. Hathaway,
S/Sgt Ellsworth Smith Bradford,
S/Sgt Abraham Lincoln Moore.
Those killed were:
Lt Col Bernard Richard Knapic,
Maj Moses Lopes Alves,
Maj Jerome James Rice,
Cpt John Hooper V. Hathaway,
S/Sgt Ellsworth Smith Bradford,
S/Sgt Abraham Lincoln Moore.
Probable cause:
Engine failure at takeoff for undetermined reason.
