54-0639

While on an airlift sortie, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. The crew elected to divert to Biên Hòa Airport for an emergency landing but on descent, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames 10 km from the airfield. All six crew members were killed. Crew: 1st Lt Neil William Hayden, 1st Lt Douglas McArthur Evans, M/Sgt Duane Leland Hartenhoff, T/Sgt Kermit Bruce Roberts, S/Sgt Carl Joseph Wanner, Sgt Milton Jackson Bush.

Flight / Schedule

54-0639

Registration

54-0639

MSN

20088

Year of Manufacture

1954

Date

May 18, 1969 at 12:00 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Supply

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Biên Hòa Ð<U+1ED3>ng Nai Province

Region

Asia • Vietnam

Crash Cause

Terrorism act, Hijacking, Sabotage

Narrative Report

On May 18, 1969 at 12:00 AM, 54-0639 experienced a crash involving Fairchild C-123 Provider, operated by United States Air Force - USAF, with the event recorded near Biên Hòa Ð<U+1ED3>ng Nai Province.

The flight was categorized as supply and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

6 people were known to be on board, 6 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 6, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is terrorism act, hijacking, sabotage. While on an airlift sortie, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. The crew elected to divert to Biên Hòa Airport for an emergency landing but on descent, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames 10 km from the airfield. All six crew members were killed. Crew: 1st Lt Neil William Hayden, 1st Lt Douglas McArthur Evans, M/Sgt Duane Leland Hartenhoff, T/Sgt Kermit Bruce Roberts, S/Sgt Carl Joseph Wanner, Sgt Milton Jackson Bush.

Aircraft reference details include registration 54-0639, MSN 20088, year of manufacture 1954.

Fatalities

Total

6

Crew

6

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

While on an airlift sortie, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. The crew elected to divert to Biên Hòa Airport for an emergency landing but on descent, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames 10 km from the airfield. All six crew members were killed. Crew: 1st Lt Neil William Hayden, 1st Lt Douglas McArthur Evans, M/Sgt Duane Leland Hartenhoff, T/Sgt Kermit Bruce Roberts, S/Sgt Carl Joseph Wanner, Sgt Milton Jackson Bush.

Cause: Terrorism act, Hijacking, Sabotage

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

6

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 6

Operational Details

Flight Type

Supply

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

Asia • Vietnam

Aircraft Details

Registration

54-0639

MSN

20088

Year of Manufacture

1954

Similar Plane Crashes

July 7, 1940 at 12:00 AM4 Fatalities

Air France

Dewoitine D.338

While on a flight from France to southeast Asia, the three engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter. The aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Gulf of Tonkin, killing all four crew members. Crew: Alfred Lacaze, pilot, Jean Assolant, copilot, Francis Pechard, radio navigator, Pierre Valepyn, engineer.

December 31, 1940 at 12:00 PM

Air France

Dewoitine D.338

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Indochina in 1940. No casualties. The exact date remains unknown.

July 2, 1943 at 12:00 AM

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Crashed following an engine failure.

November 24, 1943 at 12:00 AM1 Fatalities

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Lost without trace in Indochina. At least one crew member, Cpl Florian Sticka, was killed.

January 13, 1944 at 12:00 AM

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Crew was performing a cargo flight in Vietnam when a technical failure forced the crew to abandon the aircraft and bail out. Out of control, aircraft crashed in the Mekong Valley and was destroyed by impact forces. All five occupants were unhurt.

February 11, 1946 at 12:00 AM

Royal Air Force - RAF

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Shortly after takeoff, an unexpected failure on both engines forced the crew to make an emergency landing in a paddy field. The aircraft belly landed, slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames. All 23 occupants escaped unhurt while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.