What happened
While performing a return flight from a Special Forces operation in Biên Hòa back to Tuy Hòa, an aircraft disappeared during its approach. Prior to the incident, the pilot had contacted the Tuy Hòa tower to report that the plane was positioned approximately 15 miles south of the airfield. This communication served as the final transmission received from the flight.
Eyewitnesses reported observing the aircraft on fire while it was still airborne. The aircraft subsequently broke into two separate pieces before impacting the surface of the South China Sea, roughly eight miles south of Tuy Hoa.
Findings
Following the impact, search efforts were unable to locate any wreckage or debris from the aircraft. There were no survivors, as all three crew members are presumed deceased. The investigation noted that the aircraft was observed in a state of in-flight fire prior to the breakup and crash.