Incident Overview
While approaching Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport, the crew of a U.S. Air Force transport aircraft was vectored around an artillery firing zone. The aircraft subsequently went out of control, entered a dive, and struck the ground 19 kilometers east of the airport. The impact resulted in a huge explosion and destroyed the aircraft. All 10 occupants were killed.
Crew
The crew members on board were:
- Captain Jerome Frank Starkweather
- Captain Rafael L. Rivera-Balaguer
- Captain Richard W. Podell
- Staff Sergeant Ricky Lynn Herndon
- Staff Sergeant Ira Edward Scott
- Staff Sergeant William Everett Tyree
- 1st Lieutenant Richard A. Gray
- Specialist 5 Andrew Harry Shimp
- Specialist 5 Frank Richard Ragusa
- Specialist 4 Craig Ray Schoenbaum
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined the probable cause of the accident to be a structural failure of both wings, which detached while the aircraft was on approach. The reason for the wing detachment could not be determined.