Accident description
Last updated: 24 May 2013
| Status: | |
| Date: | 08 OCT 1969 |
| Type: | Douglas EC-47 |
| Operator: | United States Air Force - USAF |
| Registration: | 43-49100 |
| C/n / msn: | 14916/26361 |
| First flight: | 1944 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off |
| Airplane fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 30 km (18.8 mls) SE of Phu Cat AB (UIH) (Vietnam)
 |
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Phu Cat Air Base (UIH/VVPC), Vietnam |
| Phu Cat Air Base (UIH/VVPC), Vietnam |
The EC-47 departed on a Radio Direction Finding (RDF) mission out of Phu Cat, Vietnam. Problems with the Doppler navigation system forced the pilot to return to Phu Cat to get it fixed. The weather radar also had a malfunction but the crew were told to carry out their mission and return before darkness.
Weather quickly deteriorated, forcing the pilot again to return to the air base. However, while heading towards the base, the crew lost gyros and attitude indicators. During a GCA approach radio contact was also lost. The airplane crashed, killing all on board. The wreckage was located October 12.
Sources:
» US Crashes 1950-2002 / Jan van Waarde
» 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 Phu Cat Air Base to Phu Cat Air Base as the crow flies is 0 km (0 miles).
Distance from Phu Cat Air Base to Phu Cat Air Base as the crow flies is 0 km (0 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.
