Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 64-13857
Date: 04/09/1966
Incident number: 0E364ACD Accident case number: 0E364 Total Loss Accident
Unit: 162 AHC
South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 6 . . Injured = 6 . . Passengers = 8
costing 268516
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Army Aviation Safety Center database. Also: OPERA (Operations Report. )
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
AC O4 DL SCHUETT
P W1 JD TUCKER
CE E5 PD STEVENS
G PFC LOVETT RONNIE RAY KIA
Passengers and/or other participants:
E5 J THOMPSON, PAX, 3
E5 CE WAKELY, PAX, 4
PFC KOROLZYK RALPH STANLEY, AR, PX, KIA
PFC KOLB LEROY JR, AR, PX, KIA
E3 LJ PIERCE, PAX, 2
PFC ROWLAND WAYNE HULEN, AR, PX, KIA
X2 NV XO, PAX, 3
SP4 WOODARD HARRY DONALD, AR, PX, KIA
War Story:
The aircraft and crew were from the lst. Avn. Bn., I think, I know it was not from our unit. The rest of the people were from our unit. The crash occurred at Swan Loc. Cause of accident was overweight and
pilot lack of experience. On take off the AC started loosing RPM due to excessive collective, the pilot was unable to recover and hit a termite hill and ripped the belly out, rupturing the fuel cells and the AC exploded in a ball of fire. I don't remember their names, but I saw two of the guys at the hospital in Ft. Sam while I was there. They were still getting skin grafts to cover up the burn scares. I believe two of the KIA was our guys.
I don't know of any films of the crash. I had some films of the aircraft burning and the evacuation of the wounded. I don't remember whom, but some one had some 35-MM shots of the aircraft as it crashed.
Hope this helps.
Bill Cox, Mustang 6
D Troop (Air) ¼ Cav 1965-66
This is my best recollection. We were set up to conduct LRRP operations out of the District Senior Advisor's (an O-6 whose nickname was the Dutchman) compound at Xuan Loc. We had the aerorifle platoon with us although all our Clown assets were being devoted to the LRRPs. Some sort of operation with the Aerorifle platoon was mounted with another lift unit whose designation I do not remember. One of their birds went down right off the end of the airstrip (low power, engine failure?). Unfortunately, when the pilot flared to touch down, they landed right in the middle of one of those big ant hills and the A/C broke in two, the fuel cell ruptured and vaporized fuel was touched off by the engine and a fireball went through the PAX compartment. One of our guys who had been around the block a time or two, figured out what was
happening when he heard the engine winding down and unloaded at about 20-25 feet, broke both ankles but lived. I can't remember his name, but Red Frost probably will. Red was flying back from Saigon on a log run and used the smoke from the fire as a wind direction indicator before he realized what it actually was. Fred Lyssy & Brice Coleman may also be able to add some details.
Scott Stanfield, Clown 9
Troop D Air 1965-66
I believe that I eye witnessed the crash you referred to. I know I carried several of the bodies out of the wreckage and I remember Woodard specifically . I think we were flying out of a Special Forces camp,
possibly Xuan Loc, not sure.
Nick Georges, Mustang CE
D Troop 1965-66
ncgjr@worldpath.net
After reading Scott's reply, my memory was jogged. I do remember that an aircraft (I seem to think it was from the Aviation Battalion of the 1st ID) took off with some of our Aero Rifle platoon and crashed on take off just as Scott described. I wish I could remember the name of person who jumped out of the aircraft and broke his ankles, but survived.
If 8mm film was made, I don't know who would have it. I was taking slides during that time period and will check to see if I may have taken pictures. (Unfortunately my slides are in storage and I can't get to them readily).
Regards.
Fred Lyssy, Clown 2 ‘65-66
Dave the aircraft Larry Pierce is in question about did not belong to Troop D Air. On many occasions the Aero Rifle Platoon was airlifted on aircraft from the Avn. Bn. and this was one of those times. Matter of fact we were hit with rockets and mortars the night before and the aircraft scrambled and did not line up in proper order when they returned . As Platoon Sgt. I was always on chalk one going out however due to the mix up I wound up on chalk two or three. Larry will well remember the only reason he was not killed was his response to me which was that I always told my troops if you count to three after the skids hit the ground you might be to late. I remember the incident very well just off the runway at Xuan Loc. Matter of fact the
Former Troop Co Maj McLeod and myself talked about the crash last Sun
Dick Horner
ARP Platoon Sgt
D Troop ¼ Cav 1965-66
This record was last updated on 06/19/2000
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