Phan Rang - Cam Ranh Bay

On November 29, 1970 at 07:35 AM, Phan Rang - Cam Ranh Bay experienced a crash involving Fairchild C-123 Provider, operated by United States Air Force - USAF, with the event recorded near Cam Ranh Bay Khánh Hòa Province.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a mountains crash site.

44 people were known to be on board, 42 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 95.5%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 5, passengers on board: 39, passenger fatalities: 37, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Ten minutes after his departure from Phan Rang Air Base, the pilot started the descent to Cam Ranh Bay via a steep valley (3 km wide and 15 km long) at an altitude of 2,700 feet via heading 30°. Shortly later, ATC instructed the crew to change heading to 100° when contact was lost. The airplane struck trees with its both wings, stalled and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located few km from Cam Ranh Bay Airport. Rescuers arrived on the scene five days later and found two men still alive while 42 other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was nil due to low clouds. Crew: Cpt Cecil Gerald Moyer, Cpt Norbert Albert Podhajsky, 1st Lt James Francis Saxby, S/Sgt Grayson Henry Newberry, S/Sgt Harry Allen Watson.

Aircraft reference details include registration 54-0649, MSN 20098, year of manufacture 1954.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 11.9002°, 109.1806°.