What happened
During a mission conducted along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, an unidentified aircraft came under fire from enemy forces. The engagement resulted in a fire developing at the root of the left wing. Despite efforts by the personnel on board, the blaze could not be suppressed.
As the situation deteriorated, one crew member successfully exited the aircraft via parachute and was subsequently found without injuries. However, the remaining occupants were unable to escape before the plane entered a steep descent and struck the ground. The accident resulted in 10 fatalities among the crew members on board.
Findings
Investigations into the crash concluded that the primary reason for the loss of the aircraft was that it was struck by enemy fire, which initiated the uncontrollable wing fire.