Accident
On a mission to transport 42 troops of the 1st Air Cavalry Division from An Khe to Bong Son for Operation Masher, an aircraft with a crew of four encountered difficulties after takeoff. It struggled to gain altitude, and approximately 10 minutes into the flight, while flying in clouds, the right wing struck trees. The impact tore off the right engine and six meters of the right wing. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in a wooded area 10 kilometers from An Khe, killing all 46 occupants. The crew consisted of Captain Harry Richard Crumley, Captain Edward Clarence Handly, Staff Sergeant Leonard Williams, and Staff Sergeant Richard Duane Youtsey.
Investigation
Investigators determined that the right engine failed during the initial climb. The failure was likely caused by a concentration of magnesium that ignited, resulting in extensive damage to the nacelle and carburetor. It was reported that the crew had experienced technical issues with the right engine, which had failed twice prior to departure. Contributing factors included poor maintenance and adverse weather conditions, with low cloud ceilings down to 300 feet and limited visibility. The crew was forced to initiate the flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), which were not appropriate for the prevailing weather.