Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-16774
The Army purchased this helicopter 0867
Total flight hours at this point: 00000890
Date: 09/16/1968
Incident number: 680916251ACD Accident case number: 680916251 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: B/229 AVN
The station for this helicopter was Bien Hoa in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 2 . . Injured = 4 . . Passengers = 2
costing 317628
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. )
Summary: Night crash near LZ Sharon approximately 7 KM South of Quang Tri Airfield while on Lightning Bug mission.
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
AC W1 WR STANLEY
P W1 PJ FOLEY
CE E4 GP DATOR
G FSG WHITE WILLIAM HENRY KIA
Passengers and/or other participants:
CPL MCDAVITT GEORGE FRANCIS, AR, PX, KIA
E3 W SAMOLINSKI, PAX, D
Accident Summary:
The aircraft and crew were assigned the mission of Lightning Bug. Their position was the low ship flying 500 feet or below. They had flown all areas assigned to them and were returning to LZ Sharon at the altitude of 1500 feet, the high ship was at 2500 feet. The aircraft commander started a descent as they came closer to LZ Sharon, leveling off at 700 feet. He states he saw another helicopter fly in front of him and he lowered pitch to avoid the aircraft, set up a rate of descent and the next thing he knew he hit the ground. The aircraft struck the ground in an 80 knot attitude, toes of the skid first making contact, and the aircraft crumpling underneath them. The heading prior to crash was approximately 360 degrees, sliding between 100 to 200 feet from impact to rest. The aircraft turned approximately 90 degrees prior to stop.
This record was last updated on 08/17/2020
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Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023
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