Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15286
Date: 02/16/1969
Incident number: 690216101ACD Accident case number: 690216101 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: B/229 AVN
The station for this helicopter was Dau Tieng in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 1 . . Injured = 3 . . Passengers = 0
costing 344945
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 WO1 CASEY THOMAS JEROME JR KIA
P W1 WJ WEBER
CE E4 LE MOSBEY
G E4 WW KENNEDY
Accident Summary:
THE CREW WAS ON A ROUTINE LOGISTICAL SUPPORT MISSION ON ^16 FEBRUARY 1969^. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN LOADED WITH ABOUT 600 POUNDS OF CARGO AT APPROXIMATELY ^1500^ HOURS AND WAS PREPARING TO TAKE OFF TO THE SOUTH EAST. THE CREW MADE A HOVER CHECK AND REQUESTED TAKE OFF INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE TOWER. WHILE HOVERING TO THE ACTIVE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT WAS AFFECTED BY A NEARBY ^CH-47^, WHICH CAUSED GROUND TURBULENCE. AFTER EXECUTING A LOW LEVEL TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO AN ALTITUDE OF 100 TO 150 FEET AND 80 KNOTS AIRSPEED, THEN MADE A TURN FROM HEADING 140 DEGREES TO THE LEFT. AFTER REACHING THIS AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE THE ENGINE QUIT. THE CREW COMMENCED TO EXECUTE AN EMERGENCY LANDING. A RADIO CALL WAS MADE TO ^TON LE CHAM^ TOWER EXPLAINING THE EMERGENCY. ON SHORT FINAL THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE WITH THE TAILBOOM. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO COLLAPSE THE SKIDS. THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED.\\
War Story:
Aircraft had engine failure out of Tonle Cham. Autorotated into triple canopy jungle. On impact, aircraft rolled nose down and to the left implacted ground nose first on left side and he was hit in the back of the head by a crate of ammo causing masive head injuries. All crew members were pulled out on a basket by a medevac. All equipment left behind, so I went in with a patrol on the ground to recover the equipment. Everything recovered except for the reason we when in and that was for the division CEOI (communications, electronics operations instructions). by Clinton Williams, platoon leader, July 1999.
Aircraft was on a Tactical Emergency Resupply of C Co. 5/7th CAV, 1st CAV DIV (Cool Killer 6). Unit was in active contact due to ambush. Aircraft had departed LZ Jake and was in the engagement area. Believe enemy fire caused engine failure resulting in loss of the aircraft. 1 dead, 3 injured.
From: William J. Weber
This record was last updated on 09/20/2009
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Date posted on this site:
11/13/2023
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