What happened
During a mission conducted over the A Shau Valley at an altitude of 5,500 feet, the aircraft came under fire from enemy forces. The engagement resulted in damage to one of the engines, which began experiencing significant oil loss. Due to this mechanical failure, the crew initiated an emergency return to Huế Airport.
As the flight progressed, the pilot was unable to keep the aircraft above the required minimum altitude. Consequently, the captain attempted an emergency landing procedure; however, the aircraft crashed approximately 32 km southwest of Huế. The accident resulted in two fatalities, involving the captain and the flight engineer, while seven other occupants sustained injuries.
Findings
Investigations determined that the primary factor leading to the crash was the damage sustained from enemy fire during the mission.