3 fatalities

1967-08-03: De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou (62-4161) — United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) — Đức Phổ, Vietnam

Đức Phổ, VietnamFlight

On August 3, 1967, a De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou (registration 62-4161) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Đức Phổ, Vietnam in flight. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft was accidentally struck and downed by a 155 mm howitzer belonging to friendly US forces. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781239702Data APIEditorial standards

An airplane was destroyed by friendly fire from a 155 mm howitzer during its approach to a US Army Special Forces camp.

What happened

During an approach toward a United States Army Special Forces installation, an unidentified aircraft was struck by a 155 mm howitzer operated by US forces. The impact of the artillery shell caused the tail section of the plane to be severed from the fuselage. Following this structural failure, the aircraft became uncontrollable and entered a steep dive, ultimately impacting the ground.

There were three fatalities among the crew members during the incident. No survivors were reported from the flight.

Findings

Investigations concluded that the destruction of the plane was the result of friendly fire, as the aircraft was mistakenly targeted by the US artillery unit while maneuvering near the camp.

Probable cause

The aircraft was accidentally struck and downed by a 155 mm howitzer belonging to friendly US forces.