Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16063
The Army purchased this helicopter 0568
Total flight hours at this point: 00000036
Date: 07/15/1968
Incident number: 680715171ACD Accident case number: 680715171 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: B/7/1 CAV
The station for this helicopter was Di An in
Number killed in accident = 1 . . Injured = 1 . . Passengers = 0
costing 98662
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.
Crew Members:
P W2 DR MAGILL
OB SGT BEALS MICHAEL ALLEN KIA
Accident Summary:
The aircraft and crew had been flying for 5 hours prior to the accident. The aircraft was flying in a south-easterly direction along the southern bank of the Rach Tac Ba Pho River. As the aircraft came to the bend in the river, the observer told CW2 Magill he saw some people on the north bank. He began a left turn then heard what appeared to be a thud. The aircraft immediately went downward and impacted in the water. The aircraft hit left side low and tumbled end over end sinking immediately. CW2 Magill unbuckled himself and swam to the surface. He looked around for SP4 Beals but did not see any sign of him. It was determined that both the pilot and observer escaped the aircraft. The pilot had some difficulty swimming with the combined weight of protective body armor and the "flack" vest. The observers body was found in the river at 1630 hours, 17 July 1968. CW2 Magill was picked up by the Cobra gunship which was giving him cover.
This record was last updated on 05/25/1998
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Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023
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