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Aircraft Shot Down During Low-Altitude Mission (54-0597)

Lai Khê, VietnamFlight

On October 31, 1966, a Fairchild C-123 Provider (registration 54-0597) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Lai Khê, Vietnam in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Shot down by enemy fire. 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)Source recordUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft was hit by enemy fire during a low-altitude defoliant mission. The crew made an emergency landing 13 km west of Lai Khê, and all three were rescued 25 minutes later by a helicopter.

Incident Overview During a defoliant mission, the aircraft was flying at a low altitude when it was struck by enemy fire. The impact caused significant damage to the aircraft, rendering it beyond repair. ## Emergency Landing and Rescue Despite the damage, the crew managed to complete an emergency landing 13 km west of Lai Khê. All three crew members were subsequently rescued 25 minutes later by the crew of a helicopter. ## Official Findings The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the incident was that the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire. No other factors were cited in the source material.

Related events

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 31 Oct 1966 Fairchild C-123 Provider accident near Lai Khê, Vietnam?

An aircraft was hit by enemy fire during a low-altitude defoliant mission. The crew made an emergency landing 13 km west of Lai Khê, and all three were rescued 25 minutes later by a helicopter.

Were there any fatalities in the 31 Oct 1966 Fairchild C-123 Provider accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 31 Oct 1966 involved a Fairchild C-123 Provider, registration 54-0597, operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947), at Lai Khê, Vietnam.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Shot down by enemy fire.

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