What happened
During an airlift operation departing from Tuy Hoa, a C-123 encountered a fire approximately one mile south of the Tan Phat airfield, situated near the city of Bảo Lộc. The incident occurred roughly 85 miles southwest of Cam Ranh Bay. Following the onset of the fire, the pilot attempted an emergency landing; however, the aircraft crashed before reaching the runway.
While some reports suggest the loss was due to combat, alternative accounts indicate that the crash resulted from the aircraft striking a hill during periods of poor weather conditions. The incident involved a total of 5 fatalities among the crew members on board.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained significant damage due to an onboard fire.
- Inclement weather and terrain collision are cited as potential factors in the loss of the aircraft.