Helicopter CH-47C 68-15841


Information on U.S. Army helicopter CH-47C tail number 68-15841
The Army purchased this helicopter 1268
Total flight hours at this point: 00000371
Date: 09/16/1969
Incident number: 690916281ACD Accident case number: 690916281 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 180 ASHC
The station for this helicopter was Phu Hiep in
Number killed in accident = 5 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 1
costing 1931161
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC CW2 FAIRCLOTH ARTHUR CRAIG KIA
P CW2 POUNDSTONE THOMAS RICHARD KIA
CE SGT MOOTHART LARRY GRAYDON KIA
G SP4 FLOYD JAMES MILTON KIA
FE SP5 CAIN ALLEN KIA

Passengers and/or other participants:
O4 RH RAAB, LCO, G


Accident Summary:

 AT APPROXIMATELY 1630 HOURS, 16 SEPTEMBER 1969 A CH-47C AIRCRAFT SERIAL NUMBER L,-15841, PICKED UP A SLING LOAD AT PZ TWO BITS, COORD. BR 857963. THE LOAD CONSISTED OF ONE (1) 105 HOWITZER AND A "PIGGYBACK" SLING LOAD OF 40 ROUNDS OF 105 MM HOWITZER AMMUNITION. THE FOLLOWING IS A DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSPECTED FLIGHT PATH AND SEQUENCE OF EVENTS UP TO THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. UPON TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT PROCEED WEST ALONG THE VALLEY FOLLOWING THE SONG LAI GIANY RIVER AND HIGHWAY 514. (SEE TAB 9 MAP) AS THE RIVER AND HIGHWAY TURNED NORTH THE AIRCRAFT STILL FOLLOWED THESE IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION. AT COORD. BS 751066 THE AIRCRAFT PROCEEDED IN A NORTH EASTERLY DIRECTION FOLLOWING A DRAW TO THE FIRE BASE WHICH WAS THE INTENDED LZ FOR ITS SLING LOAD. (WHEN I QUESTIONED THE BATTERY COMMANDER AS TO THE DIRECTION HE SAW OR HEARD THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHING FROM, HE INDICATED THE DIRECTION OF THIS DRAW.) AS IT WAS APPROACHING THE LZ THE BATTERY COMMANDER HAD RADIO CONTACT WITH THE AIRCRAFT. HE RADIOED TO THE PILOT THAT THE WEATHER WAS GETTING BAD AND THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO HURRY. THE PILOT ROGERED THE RADIO TRANSMISSION. THE NEXT CALL FROM THE BATTERY COMMANDER WAS HIM TELLING THE PILOT HE COULD HEAR THE AIRCRAFT BUT NOT SEE IT. AGAIN THE PILOT ROGERED HIS TRANSMISSION. THE BATTERY COMMANDER SAW THE AIRCRAFT PASS OVERHEAD. HE TOLD THE PILOT THIS BUT THERE WAS NO FURTHER REPLY FROM THE AIRCRAFT. HE DID HOWEVER HEAR THE PILOT KEY HIS MIKE. THE AIRCRAFT BROKE TO THE NORTHEAST IN A DESCENDING RIGHT HAND TURN. APPROXIMATELY 250 METERS FROM THE INTENDED PZ THE SLING LOAD WAS RELEASED. (COORD BS 772089) THE BATTERY COMMANDER SAID WHEN HE HEARD THE CRASH HE RAN TO A HIGH VANTAGE POINT AT HIS FIRE BASE AND LOOKED TOWARD THE SOUND OF THE CRASH. DUE TO THE HEAVY FOG HE COULD NOT SEE THE WRECKAGE. A LRRP TEAM OPERATING IN THE AREA WAS SENT TO THE CRASH SITE BY THE BATTERY COMMANDER. THEY CONFIRMED THERE WERE NO SURVIVORS. A GUNSHIP FROM THE 61ST AVIATION COMPANY WAS THE FIRST ONE TO THE ACCIDENT SITE. CW2 JONES, THE PILOT, ARRIVED ON THE SCENE APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AFTER THE CRASH. BECAUSE OF LOW CEILINGS AND LIMITED VISIBILITY HE HAD TO HOVER HIS AIRCRAFT UP THE HILL TO THE CRASH SITE. UPON HIS ARRIVAL HE FOUND THE AIRCRAFT BURNING WITH NO EVIDENCE OF ANY SURVIVORS. AT THAT TIME THERE WAS ABOUT A 50 FOOT CEILING IN THE AREA. HE THEN HOVERED BACK DOWN THE HILL AND LEFT THE AREA, REPORTING HIS FINDINGS.\\

This record was last updated on 09/20/1998


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Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023


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