Helicopter UH-1H 66-01207
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-01207
The Army purchased this helicopter 0267
Total flight hours at this point: 00000491
Date: 11/09/1968
Accident case number: 681109031
Unit: 571 MED DET
The station for this helicopter was Phu Bai in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 5000
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.
Crew Members:
AC W1 POIRIER MR
P W1 LEONERD PL
Accident Summary:
WHILE HOVERING IN TIGHT LZ THE ROTOR BLADES STRUCK A TREE THE
ACFT WAS FLOWN TO LZ & SHUT DWN FOR INSPECTION THE ROTOR
BLADES WERE FOUND CRACKED \
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-01207
The Army purchased this helicopter 0267
Total flight hours at this point: 00001060
Date: 03/12/1970
Incident number: 700312211ACD Accident case number: 700312211 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 128 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Nui dat in South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: YS425781
Number killed in accident = 13 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 10
costing 860945
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Army Aviation Safety Center database. Also: OPERA (Operations Report. )
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
AC WO1 CUNNINGHAM LEONARD DWIGHT KIA
P WO1 DANDURAND JAY THOMAS KIA
CE SP4 MCNICOL GARY DOUGLAS KIA
G SP4 CUMMINGS CHARLES HENRY KIA
Passengers:
, PAX, A;
, PAX, A;
, PAX, A;
, PAX, A;
, PAX, A;
, PAX, A;
, PAX, A;
, PAX, A;
, PAX, A;
O3 JE BOWEN, FCO, G;
Accident Summary:
AT THIRTEEN HUNDRED HOURS, ON 12 MARCH 1970, U.S. ARMY HELICOPTER
66-1207 DEPARTED PHU LOI AIRFIELD AS CHALK FOUR IN A FLIGHT OF
FOUR UH-1'S WITH A DESTINATION OF A PICKUP ZONE AT YS 3880. THE
PRIMARY MISSION WAS TO PARTICIPATE IN A TACTICAL EXTRACTION OF
SIXTY-SEVEN U.S. ARMY INFANTRY TROOPS, AND RETURN THEM TO FSB
RHODE ISLAND, IN SUPPORT OF THE 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION. THE
FLIGHT TO THE PICKUP ZONE WAS UNEVENTFUL. UPON RECEIVING THE
REQUIRED INFORMATION FROM THE AIR MISSION COMMANDER THE FLIGHT
LEADER PROCEEDED TOWARD THE PZ. AT THIS TIME THE AMC TOLD THE
FLIGHT LEADER TO BE PREPARED TO CARRY EIGHT TO TEN GROUND TROOPS
ON EACH OF HIS FOUR AIRCRAFT IN ORDER TO SAVE AN EXTRA TURN
AROUND. THE GROUND TROOPS HAD BEEN LINED UP, SEVEN MEN PER
AIRCRAFT AND HAD TO SHIFT THEIR PERSONNEL ON THE GROUND IN ORDER
TO COMOLY WITH AMC'S INSTRUCTIONS. THE PICKUP ZONE WAS LARGE AND
NO PROBLEMS WERE ENCOUNTERED ON THE TAKEOFF BY THE AIRCRAFT IN
THE FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT PROCEEDED SOUTEAST TOWARD THE LANDING
ZONE AND CLIMBED TO AN ALTITUDE OF TWO HUNDRED FEET ABOVE THE
GROUND. AFTER BEING AIRBORNE APPROXIMATELY THREE MINUTES, AND IN
THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, YS 4077, THE AIRCRAFT
COMMANDER OF THE CHALK FOUR AIRCRAFT U.S. ARMY HELICOPTER SERIAL
NUMBER 66-1207, WAS HEARD TO SAY OVER THE UHF RADIO "27 HAS AN
ENGINE FAILURE" PAUSE "GOING DOWN IN THE TREES". IN AN ATTEMPT
TO PREPARE FOR IMPACT WITH THE TREES WO1 CUNNINGHAM INITIATED A
SEVERE DECELERATION (AT THIS POINT THE TAILBOOM HIT A 10 INCH
DIAMETER TREE BREAKING IT AND CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO PIVOT ON
THE POINT OF CONTACT). AS A RESULT OF THE DECELERATION MANEUVER
AND CONTACT WITH THE TREE THE AIR SPEED WAS NEAR ZERO BUT THE
PIVOTING ACTION CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO ENTER THE TREES IN A NOSE
LOW ATTITUDE. UPON IMPACT WITH THE TREES AN INITIAL EXPLOSION
OCCURRED AND A FIRE ENSUED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SEEN FALLING
(NEARLY VERTICALLY) TO THE GROUND IN A BALL OF FLAMES. NUMEROUS
SMALLER EXPLOSIONS WERE SEEN ONCE THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON
THE GROUND. APPROXIMATELY TWO TO THREE MINUTES AFTER THE
AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND A TREMENDOUS EXPLOSION OCCURRED, SENDING
DEBRIS FROM THE BURNING WRECKAGE SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET IN THE AIR
SPREADING THE WRECKAGE OVER A 375 METER DIAMETER CIRCLE.\\
This record was last updated on 09/20/1998
The following is crew member information for this incident:
Name: PFC Lester Vincent Cafiero, Jr. (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 03/12/1970 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Date of Birth: 02/15/1950
Home City: West Hempstead, NY
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Major organization: 25th Infantry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 13W-115
SSN: 093402587
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11B10 = Infantryman
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 12/16/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Location: Phuoc Tuy Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/31/1996
Name: SP4 Charles Henry Cummings
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 03/12/1970 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 18.9
Date of Birth: 04/10/1951
Home City: Hadley, MA
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 128 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 13W-115
Short Summary: Aircraft accident.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-01207
SSN: 035344147
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67A10 = Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Started Tour: 05/31/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Phuoc Tuy Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Protestant - no denominational preference
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/28/1994
Name: WO1 Leonard Dwight Cunningham (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 03/12/1970 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 21.0
Date of Birth: 02/25/1949
Home City: Pulaski, TN
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 128 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 69-9
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 13W-116
Short Summary: Aircraft accident.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-01207
SSN: 410767266 Service number: W3165952
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: A/C Accident
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Started Tour: 05/31/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Location: Phuoc Tuy Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Presbyterian
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 08/20/1995
Name: WO1 Jay Thomas Dandurand
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 03/12/1970 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 21.3
Date of Birth: 11/11/1948
Home City: Riverdale, NJ
Service: reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 128 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 69-37/69-35
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 13W-116
Short Summary: Aircraft accident.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-01207
SSN: 358385875
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: A/C Accident
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: co-pilot
Started Tour: 12/31/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Location: Phuoc Tuy Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Methodist (Evangelical United Brethren)
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 08/20/1995
Name: PFC Aaron Lee Darr (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 03/12/1970 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Date of Birth: 01/08/1948
Home City: Elsah, IL
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Major organization: 25th Infantry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 13W-116
SSN: 333381630
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11B10 = Infantryman
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 12/11/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Phuoc Tuy Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Methodist (Evangelical United Brethren)
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/31/1996
Name: SGT Jose Oscar Garcia (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 03/12/1970 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Date of Birth: 06/06/1946
Home City: St Louis, MO
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Major organization: 25th Infantry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 13W-117
SSN: 497482373
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11B40 = Infantryman
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 05/26/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Phuoc Tuy Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/31/1996
Name: PFC Walter James Hampton
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 03/12/1970 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Date of Birth: 02/27/1947
Home City: Memphis, TN
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Major organization: 25th Infantry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 13W-117
SSN: 428984002
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11B10 = Infantryman
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Started Tour: 12/11/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Location: Phuoc Tuy Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Negro
Relgion: Baptist - other groups
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/31/1996
Name: SGT Edward Wayne Holmes (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 03/12/1970 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Date of Birth: 10/16/1948
Home City: Memphis, TN
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Major organization: 25th Infantry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 13W-118
SSN: 414800150
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11B40 = Infantryman
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 12/10/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Phuoc Tuy Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Protestant - no denominational preference
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/31/1996
Name: PFC Olin Jennes Leonard (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 03/12/1970 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Date of Birth: 11/12/1946
Home City: Randleman, NC
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Major organization: 25th Infantry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 13W-118
SSN: 245708902
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11B10 = Infantryman
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 01/06/1970
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Location: Phuoc Tuy Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Baptist - other groups
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/31/1996
Name: SP4 Gary Douglas Mc Nicol
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 03/12/1970 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 20.5
Date of Birth: 09/11/1949
Home City: Newell, WV
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 128 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 13W-119
Short Summary: Aircraft accident.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-01207
SSN: 234824992
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N20 = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Started Tour: 06/21/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Phuoc Tuy Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/24/1994
Name: SP4 Ronny Dean Shattuck (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 03/12/1970 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Date of Birth: 12/16/1950
Home City: Renton, WA
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Major organization: 25th Infantry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 13W-120
SSN: 539525758
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 91A10 = Medical Corpsman
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 09/04/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Phuoc Tuy Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/31/1996
Name: SP4 Veney Ewell Thompson
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 03/12/1970 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Date of Birth: 04/01/1946
Home City: Wewoka, OK
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Major organization: 25th Infantry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 13W-121
SSN: 441463904
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11B20 = Infantryman
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 06/06/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Phuoc Tuy Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Negro
Relgion: Baptist - other groups
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/31/1996
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-01208
The Army purchased this helicopter 0267
Total flight hours at this point: 00001297
Date: 02/20/1969
Accident case number: 690220021
Unit: B/101 AVN
The station for this helicopter was Camp Eagle in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 930
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.
Crew Members:
AC W1 DAMON JA
Accident Summary:
WHILE LDG TO A PINNACLE ACFT FELL THRU SHORT FINAL DAM SKID &
CROSS TUBE \
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-01208
It is provided here as an ESTIMATE of the history of this helicopter
and is not intended to be the final authority.
This helicopter was purchased by the US Army in 0267.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY
6702 0 1 W0Y6AA TRAN MDMHELCO S ALASKA ALASKA
6703 22 23 2425 POST SUPPLY 6TH ARMY FORT ORD 6TH ARMY
6704 5 28 2425 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM
6705 25 53 2425 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM
6706 25 78 2425 USARV FLT DET VIETNAM RVN
6707 24 102 2425 USARV FLT DET VIETNAM RVN
6708 19 121 2425 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM
6709 0 121 2425 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM
6710 0 121 2425 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM
6711 35 156 3278 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY
6712 0 156 3278 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY
6801 66 222 3278 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY
6802 0 222 3278 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY
6803 0 222 3278 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY
6804 0 222 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM
6805 0 222 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM
6806 0 222 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM
6807 1 223 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM
6808 0 223 3300 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC
6809 49 272 WEAEAA 571 MED DET VIETNAM RVN
6810 115 387 WEAEAA 571 MED DET VIETNAM RVN
6811 104 491 WEAEAA 571 MED DET VIETNAM RVN
6812 103 594 WEAEAA 571 MED DET VIETNAM RVN
6901 45 639 WEAEAA 571 MED DET VIETNAM RVN
6902 56 695 WEAEAA 571 MED DET VIETNAM RVN
6903 62 757 WEAEAA 571 MED DET VIETNAM RVN
6904 77 834 WEAEAA 571 MED DET VIETNAM RVN
6905 66 900 WEAEAA 571 MED DET VIETNAM RVN
6906 43 943 WEAEAA 571 MED DET VIETNAM RVN
6907 13 956 WEAEAA 571 MED DET VIETNAM RVN
6908 26 982 WEAEAA 571 MED DET VIETNAM RVN
6909 41 1023 WEAEAA 571 MED DET VIETNAM RVN
6910 20 1043 WEAEAA 571 MED DET VIETNAM RVN
6911 0 1043 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN
6912 3 1046 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN
7001 0 1046 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN
7002 14 1060 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
Please send additions or corrections to:
Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870
Send comments and questions to the VHPA at ( webmaster@vhpa.org )
Printed from databases on:
07/06/2000
Return to Main Index
Copyright © 1998 and 1999 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
|
