Criminal Occurrence description
Last updated: 19 June 2013
| Status: | |
| Date: | 10 FEB 1968 |
| Type: | Lockheed KC-130F Hercules |
| Operator: | United States Marine Corps |
| Registration: | 149813 |
| C/n / msn: | 3719 |
| First flight: | 1962 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 6 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 11 |
| Airplane damage: | Destroyed |
| Airplane fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Khe Sanh (Vietnam)
 |
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Da Nang Airport (DAD/VVDN), Vietnam |
| Khe Sanh, Vietnam |
The U.S. base at Khe Sanh was being resupplied with ammunition and fuel. One of the aircraft involved in the resupply mission was a USMC KC-130F Hercules, 149813. The airplane carried a load of flamethrowers and some rubber bladders filled with jet fuel.
The airplane was on finals the Khe Sanh when it was hit by .50 calibre gunfire. Engine nr.3 caught fire and a fuel bladder was hit. It ruptured and the fuel caught fire. Trailing fire, the pilot managed to land at Khe Sanh. The fuel bladders exploded into flames after touchdown. Just three crew members managed to escape the burning plane.
Sources:
» Vietnam Air Losses : United States Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps fixed-wing aircraft losses in Southeast Asia 1961-1973 / Chris Hobson
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Da Nang Airport to Khe Sanh as the crow flies is 170 km (106 miles).
Distance from Da Nang Airport to Khe Sanh as the crow flies is 170 km (106 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
