Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-19515
The Army purchased this helicopter 1168
Total flight hours at this point: 00000369
Date: 10/05/1969
Incident number: 691005101ACD Accident case number: 691005101 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 326 MED 101 ABN
The station for this helicopter was Camp Eagle in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 4 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 1
costing 455945
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 WO1 BALDWIN ORVAL ARTHUR KIA
P WO1 ARMSTEAD ROCKY D KIA
CE SP5 SUTTON HUBERT DANIEL KIA
MD SP5 ARNOLD STEVEN ERNEST KIA
Accident Summary:
At approximately 0500H, the Medical Evacuation Radio Operator received a Medical Evacuation Mission from Fire Base SCOTCH (XD12564). Two Americans, seriously injured by a bunker cave-in, needed immediate attention. The duty pilots for medevac at AMI LOC were briefed on the mission and the aircraft commander requested flare ship support for the night mission. The flare ship took off prior to the medevac ship, and upon tuning in the medevac frequency heard, the medevac transmission that the weather was obstructing his flight in the northwest. The radio operator at Fire Base SCOTCH received a similar call from the medevac ship. The medevac aircraft returned to Mai Loc, circled several times, then flew to the southwest. After flying southwest for some distance and again having weather obstruct progress the medevac pilot decided to return to Mai Loc. A call was made to Fire Base SCOTCH by the medevac pilot that the second attempt to reach the pick-up location was being aborted due to weather and an attempt would be made to accomplish the mission at first light. Enroute back to Mai Loc from the second try to reach the medical evacuation pick-up location, the aircraft at approximately 200 altitude, abruptly pitched nose down and flew into the ground. The resulting crash and fire fatally injured all members aboard. The flare ship, upon returning to Mai Loc, flew directly to the crash site, and conducted a ground survey for survivors. Upon determining there were no survivors, the flare ship returned to Mai Loc and shuttled a security force to the crash site. An initial investigation was conducted prior to removal of the bodies by Captain Richard A. Green, HHC, 3rd BDE, 101st Airborne Division (AMBL). The body location depicated on the wreckage distribution are essentially those established by Captain Green. No other parts, except for personnel gear, were removed by personnel other than the investigation board.
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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