What happened
During the initial stages of a takeoff roll intended for a flight to Quy Nhơn, a Hercules aircraft experienced a sudden loss of directional control. As the plane approached rotation speed, it swerved toward the left side of the runway and exited the paved surface.
In an attempt to recover, the pilot managed to steer the aircraft back onto the runway centerline. However, the momentum of the vehicle caused it to overshoot the end of the runway. The aircraft subsequently struck an embankment, which led to a post-crash fire.
There were 56 people on board the aircraft at the time of the accident, including both passengers and crew members. The crash resulted in 35 fatalities, involving personnel from the United States, South Korea, and South Vietnam.
Findings
- The aircraft departed the runway due to a sudden leftward veer just prior to liftoff.
- The aircraft struck an embankment following the runway overshoot, triggering a fire.