Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-01099
The Army purchased this helicopter 0167
Total flight hours at this point: 00000303
Date: 08/09/1967
Incident number: 670809131ACD Accident case number: 670809131 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 175 AHC
South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 5 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 2
costing 556954
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:
P MAJ LATTA CHARLES R KIA
P 1LT SODAITIS GEORGE FRANK KIA
CE SP4 KOOMAN GARY ROGER KIA
G SP4 HOPPER GERALD LEE KIA
Passengers and/or other participants:
PVT MCRAE WILLIAM JOSEPH, AR, PX, KIA
CIV DEGNAN JERRY, CV, PX, KIA
Accident Summary:
Description of the accident: The US Army UH-1D departed Vinh Long Air Field at 0942 hours, on a valid flight clearance to Can Tho Air Field, Bear Cat Air Field, Long Binh, and due for a direct return to Vinh Long. The UH-1D departed the 24th Field Hospital Heliport at approximately 1554 hours, in a northwesterly direction. It continued to climb while executing a gentle right turn to avoid built up areas and the normal heavy air traffic in the Long Binh area. The climb and turn were continued until a south to southwest course was established and an estimated altitude of 1500 - 1800 feet MSL reached. Within a maximum of one minute from the time the course was established, at 1557 hours, an Air Force RF-101, which was being vectored to a GCA final at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, collided with the left top side of the UH-1D. The collision disintegrated the UH-1D's main rotor system and tore off the tail pylon at about station 270. The UH-1D fell in a southwesterly direction, nosing down and over, losing pieces of the air frame and other material stowed in the cabin section. The aircraft commander and gunner of the UH-1D were either thrown or jumped clear of the helicopter before impact. The UH-1D struck the ground in a nose down inverted attitude completely demolishing the helicopter. A post impact fire insued gutting all the wreckage except the pilot's compartment. After the collision the RF-101 experienced a flame out of the right engine. Full power on left engine failed to produce sufficient flying speed to control the aircraft. The RF-101 continued on a course of approximately 250 degrees and descending. The aircraft started to nose over uncontrolled at approximately 175 knots IAS. The pilot elected to eject. The ejection was successful although the pilot received major injuries from landing on his back. The RF-101 impacted in a level attitude approximately 3 1/2 miles from the assumed collision point and 3 miles from the UH-1D impact point.
This record was last updated on 09/20/1998
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Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023
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