Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 68-17287
The Army purchased this helicopter 0969
Total flight hours at this point: 00001203
Date: 05/19/1972
Incident number: 720519111ACD Accident case number: 720519111 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: D/229 AVN
The station for this helicopter was Bien Hoa in
Number killed in accident = 1 . . Injured = 1 . . Passengers = 0
costing 196321
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.
Crew Members:
P WO1 LEACH DEAN KENT KIA
G E4 AA ANDERSON
Accident Summary:
AT 1630 ^WO1 LEACH^ DEPARTED LASSITER FIELD TO PERFORM A LAST LIGHT VISUAL RECONAISSANCE OF THE BIEN HOA AREA. HIS GUNNER ON THE MISSION WAS ^SP4 ANDERSON^. THE MISSION CONTINUED TO A VISUAL RECON OF THE DONG NAI RIVER. AS THE MISSION PROGRESSED THE AC OF THE AH-1G COVER SHIP ^WO1 ADAMS^ OBSERVED THE SKIDS OF THE LOH TOUCH THE WATER. AT ABOUT THIS TIME THE GUNNER FELT A SPRAY OF WATER AND WAS KNOCKED OUT OF THE LOH INTO THE WATER. THE AH-1G PILOTS THEN OBSERVED THE LOH IN A LEFT HAND, NOSE HIGH TURN. THE LOH THEN WENT NOSE LOW INTO THE WATER AND SANK. THE GUNNER WAS RESCUED AFTER SWIMMING TO THE BANK, AND THE PILOT WAS FOUND DEAD THREE DAYS LATER.\\
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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