10 fatalities

1974-10-13: Lockheed C-130 Hercules (65-0965) — United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) — South China Sea, World

South China Sea, WorldFlight

On October 13, 1974, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules (registration 65-0965) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near South China Sea, World in flight. 10 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Due to lack of evidence as the aircraft was not found, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined. 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 1781231051Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft en route from Taipei to Saigon crashed into the South China Sea during poor weather caused by Typhoon Bess. Search and rescue operations were abandoned days later with no trace of the aircraft or its 10 occupants.

Incident Overview

An aircraft operating a flight from Taipei to Saigon encountered adverse weather conditions and crashed into the South China Sea. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor due to the presence of Typhoon Bess.

Search and Rescue

Search and rescue (SAR) operations were conducted following the crash. However, these efforts were eventually abandoned several days later, as no trace of the aircraft or its 10 occupants was found.

Official Findings

The official investigation into the accident concluded that, due to the lack of evidence – the aircraft was never located – the exact cause of the accident could not be determined.

Probable cause

Due to lack of evidence as the aircraft was not found, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined.