No fatalities

1967-03-12: Lockheed C-130 Hercules (63-7772) — United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) — An Khe, Vietnam

An Khe, VietnamTakeoff (climb)

On March 12, 1967, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules (registration 63-7772) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near An Khe, Vietnam during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft stalled due to reduced visibility caused by dust clouds generated by a nearby Chinook helicopter rotor. 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)Primary reportUpdated 1781240193Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed into flames during its initial climb from An Khe Airstrip, resulting in no fatalities among the crew.

What happened

During the early stages of flight, an aircraft experienced a stall immediately after departing from the An Khe Airstrip. As the plane attempted to gain altitude, it lost aerodynamic lift and impacted the ground, subsequently being consumed by fire. Despite the intensity of the post-crash flames, all five crew members were successfully pulled from the wreckage.

Findings

Investigations into the accident indicated that the flight crew's visibility was significantly compromised during the climb. The primary factor contributing to the loss of control was dust kicked up by the rotors of a nearby Chinook helicopter, which obscured the pilot's view and likely interfered with the aircraft's stability during the critical liftoff phase.

Probable cause

The aircraft stalled due to reduced visibility caused by dust clouds generated by a nearby Chinook helicopter rotor.