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57th Assault Helicopter Co.
57th AHC
Gladiators - Cougars

Goldbook Info - UH-1H 67-17800

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17800
The Army purchased this helicopter 0968
Total flight hours at this point: 00000497
Date: 07/27/69
Incident number: 690727131ACD Accident case number: 690727131 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 57 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Kontum in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 4 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 455945
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, Unit History (Operations Report. )
Summary: Crashed during a radar approach to Kontum in very bad weather.
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
AC WO1 BERGQUIST ERIC EMANUEL KIA
P 1LT CARR JAMES ALLEN KIA
CE SP4 HINSON THOMAS ALLEN KIA
G PFC DEES JERRY RICHARD KIA

Accident Summary: ON 27 JULY 1969, AT APPROXIMATELY 1800 HRS (LOCAL), A TACTICAL EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED BY FOB HEADQUARTERS AT KONTUM. THE 57TH AVN CO (ASLT HEL) WAS INFORMED OF THE SITUATION AND SCRAMNLED FOUR UH-1H (SLICK) AND TWO UH-1C (GUNSHIP) AIRCRAFT IN SUPPORT OF THE OPERATION. THEY WERE TO MAKE TROOP EXTRACTIONS IN THE BEN HET AREA. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED KONTUM AND ALL ARRIVED SAFELY AT DAK TO, WHERE THEY REFUELED AND PROCEEDED ON THEIR MISSION. THEY WERE UNABLE TO REACH THE EXTRACTION SITE, DUE TO THE WEATHER AND BEGAN A CIRCULAR ORBIT APPROXIMATELY FOUR MILES TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE SITE WAITING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXTRACT THE TEAM. AFTER APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR, THE FLIGHT RETURNED TO BEN HET. WO1 JOHN M. SMITH, AIRCRAFT COMMANDER OF AIRCRAFT 559 HAD LED THE FLIGHT THIS FAR, DUE TO THE FACT THAT HE WAS THE PRIMARY EXTRACT SHIP. UPON ARRIVAL TO BEN HET, WO1 SMITH WAS INSTRUCTED BY THE FLIGHT LEADER, WO1 MAURICE D. MAXWELL, TO PROCEED DOWN THE ROAD TOWARDS DAK TO AND TO RELAY THE WEATHER BACK TO THE REST OF THE FLIGHT, WHICH WOULD REMAIN IN ORBIT AT BEN HET. APPROXIMATELY HALF WAY TO DAK TO, WO1 SMITH CALLED THE FLIGHT AND SAID THAT HE HAD MADE IT ALLRIGHT, THAT CEILING ALONG THE ROUTE WAS RANGING FROM FIFTY TO ONE-HUNDRED FEET AGL AND THAT THERE WAS MODERATE RAIN FALL. THE FLIGHT LEADER'S STATEMENT. HE STATES THAT WO1 SMITH REPORTED THAT HE HAD TO GO IMC FOR SHORPERIODS OF TIME AND THAT IT WAS AT THIS TIME WHEN WO1 BERGQUIST ASKED FOR PERMISSION TO RETURN TO KONTUM UNDER IMC FLIGHT. THIS IS SOMEWHAT NEGATED BY THE STATEMENT OF WO1 SMITH, WHO MAKES NO MENTION OF IMC IN HIS STATEMENT, AND BY THE FACT THAT CW2 ALLEN M. MORRIS, AIRCRAFT COMMANDER OF 552, STATES THAT HE FOLLOWED WO1 BERGQUIST DOWN THE ROAD FROM BEN HET FOR A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE WO1 BERGQUIST ACTUALLY DEPARTED THE FLIGHT. IT APPEARS THAT WO1 BERGQUIST WAS UNDECIDED AS TO HOW TO RETURN AT THIS TIME. THE FLIGHT LEADER FELT THAT WO1 BERGQUIST WAS CAPABLE AND LEFT IT TO HIS OWN DISCRETION. SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING BEN HET, CW2 MORRIS OBSERVED WO1 BERGQUIST'S AIRCRAFT (67-17800) IN A LEFT CLIMBING TURN. CW2 MORRIS QUESTIONED WO1 BERGQUIST AS TO HIS INTENTIONS. THE REPLY WAS THAT HE WAS GOING TO MAKE A 360 DEGREE TURN FOR SPACING. APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FOUR MINUTES LATER. AT THIS TIME HE CALLED THE FLIGHT LEADER AND TOLD HIM THAT HE WAS CLIMBING TO 7000 FEET AND REQUESTED PERMISSION TO CHANGE FREQUENCIES TO KONTUM GCA. THE FLIGHT LEADER GAVE HIS PERMISSION AND CONTINUED ON TO KONTUM. 67-17800 WAS THAT ESTABLISHED WITH KONTUM GCA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS PICKED UP AS A RADAR TARGET AND POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION WAS MADE SIX MILES NORTH OF THE AIRFIELD. AS EVIDENCED BY THE STATEMENT'S OF THE CONTROLLER AND THE SUPERVISOR ON DUTY, THE APPROACH WAS NORMAL UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT WAS TURNED ONTO A FINAL APPROACH. THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN WERE TO DESCENT AT 4800 FEET AND TURN TO 270 DEGREES ON FINAL AND TO REPORT LEVEL AT 4800 FEET. AT NINE MILES, THE PILOT REPORTED LEVEL. AT EIGHT MILES, THE CONTROLLER DID NOT HAVE AN ELEVATION TARGET. THIS HAD OCCURRED ON ONE OR TWO PREVIOUS APPROACHES THAT EVENING AND THE CONTROLLER SUSPECTED A FAILURE WITH HIS ELEVATION MECHANISM. AT THIS TIME, INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN TO THE EFFECT THAT THE APPROACH WOULD BE CHANGED FROM A PRECISION APPROACH TO A SURVEILLANCE APPROACH WITH RECOMMENDED ALTITUDES GIVEN EACH MILE ON FINAL. THE PILOT ROGERED THE CHANGE OF INSTRUCTIONS AND RESUMED A NORMAL APPROACH. AT APPROXIMATELY FOUR AND ONE-HALF MILES, THE PILOT ASKED THE CONTROLLER WHAT HIS ALTITUDE SHOULD BE. THE CONTROLLER ANSWERED 3600 FEET AND A ROGER FROM THE PILOT WAS RECEIVED. THE PILOT ASKED THE CONTROLLER TO ADVISE HIM OF RECOMMENDED ALTITUDES EVERY HALF MILE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE APPROACH. AT FOUR MILES, DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE WERE RELAYED TO THE PILOT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE TARGET DISAPPEARED FROM THE CONTROLLER'S SCOPE. THE CONTROLLER ISSUED INSTRUCTIONS TO EXECUTE A MISSED APPROACH AND RECEIVED NO ANSWER. HE CALLED AGAIN ON THE SAME FREQUENCY AND THEN PUT OUT A CALL ON GUARD, ALL WITH NEGATIVE REPLIES. AT THIS TIME, HE NOTIFIED OPERATIONS AT THE 57TH AVN CO (ASLT HEL).
War Story:
The 57th AHC's unit history states the monsoon weather had forced many mission cancellation during the month. Four slicks had departed for a mission and, after accomplishing the mission, header back for Kontum. While enroute the ceiling lowered to 300 feet in rain. Three of the ships made it back safely but the fourth, piloted by WO Eric Bargquist and 1LT James Carr, went IFR and had initiated a surveillance radar approach to the field. On a three mile final to runway 28, contact was lost on radar. An immediate search was begun and, before the weather forced the search to a halt, wreckage was found burning approximately 100 meters below the top of a ridgeline. The two pilots, along with the CE, SP4 Thomas Hinson, and doorgunner, PFC Jerry Dees, died in the crash This record was last updated on 05/25/98

The following is crew member information for this incident:
Name: WO1 Eric Emanuel Bergquist
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 07/27/69 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 23.5
Date of Birth: 01/15/46
Home City: Houston, TX
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 57 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 68-17
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 20W-054
Short Summary: Crashed on surveillance approach into Kontum at night in bad weather. Suspect wrong altitude.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17800
SSN: 437669733
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: A/C Accident WX
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Started Tour: 11/29/68
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Location: Kontum Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married 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: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 07/29/95


Name: 1LT James Allen Carr
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 07/27/69 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 22.9
Date of Birth: 08/23/46
Home City: Dublin, OH
Service: EN branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 57 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 68-22
Service: EN branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 20W-055
Short Summary: Crashed on surveillance approach into Kontum at night in bad weather. Suspect wrong altitude.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17800
SSN: 287408913 Service number: O5258501
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 1981 = 19 Rotary Wing Aviator (Unit Commander)
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Started Tour: 03/03/69
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Length of service: 02
Location: Kontum Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married 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: officer
This record was last updated on 07/29/95


Name: PFC Jerry Richard Dees
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 07/27/69 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 18.7
Date of Birth: 11/21/50
Home City: Phoenix, AZ
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 57 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 20W-055
Short Summary: Crashed on surveillance approach into Kontum at night in bad weather. Suspect wrong altitude.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17800
SSN: 527886036
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
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Started Tour: 04/23/69
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Location: Kontum Province II 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 07/28/94


Name: SP4 Thomas Allen Hinson
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 07/27/69 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 20.8
Date of Birth: 10/01/48
Home City: Houston, TX
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 57 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 20W-057
Short Summary: Crashed on surveillance approach into Kontum at night in bad weather. Suspect wrong altitude.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17800
SSN: 449821373
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67A1F = Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: crew chief
Started Tour: 03/31/68
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Kontum Province II 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 07/24/94

Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-17800
Date: 09/06/69
Accident case number: 690906111
Unit: C/7/1 CAV
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 30639
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
P O2 BYRD JM
OB E5 CARR T

Accident Summary: AIRCRAFT REFUELED AT CAO LAHN AT APPROXIMATELY 143/ HOURS AND TOOK OFF TO MAKE A LOW LEVEL RECONNAISSANCE OF THE TREE LINES ALONG THE CANAL SOUTH OF CAO LAHN. THE MISSION WAS PROGRESSING NORMALLY AND THE AIRCRAFT'S PERFORMANCE HAD BEEN SATISFACTORY WITH NO ABNORMAL READINGS ON THE INSTRUMENTS. AT 1615 HOURS, WHILE CONDUCTING A LOW LEVEL VISUAL RECON, AN ENGINE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED. ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 15 FEET AND AIRSPEED WAS 40 TO 50 KNOTS. WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED, BYRD ELECTED TO USE THE AVAILABLE AIRSPEED AND RPM TO CLEAR THE TREE LINE IN ORDER TO LAND IN THE CANAL. THIS WAS A SOUND DECISION BECAUSE RECOVERY OF THE AIRCRAFT, RADIOS AND WEAPONS WOULD HAVE BEEN NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE IN THE TREE LINE. CREW SURVIVABILITY WAS ALSO MUCH EASIER IN THE WATER BECAUSE OF ACCESSIBILITY. BYRD MADE A ZERO GROUND SPEED AUTOROTATION TO THE CANAL AND THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED LEVEL INTO THE WATER. THE ONLY DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT WAS TO THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES, WHICH WERE TORN APART UPON CONTACT WITH THE WATER.
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17800
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 0968.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

Tabular Data unavailable on mobile device
DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6809   0    0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR
6810   0    0 3300   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC
6811   5    5 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6812 154  159 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6901 120  279 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6902  54  333 WCLMAA 56 TRANS CO DS   VIETNAM                     RVN
6903   0  333 WCLMAA 56 TRANS CO DS   VIETNAM                     RVN
6904   0  333 WCLMAA 56 TRANS CO DS   VIETNAM                     RVN
6905   3  336 WCLMAA 56 TRANS CO DS   VIETNAM                     RVN
6906  97  433 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW  VIETNAM                     RVN
6907  64  497 WC5CAA 572ND MI DET     VIETNAM                     RVN

Printed from databases on: 08/27/00
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