Accident Summary of the "257"
The Final Mission
Accident Summary:
ON THE NIGHT OF 12 SEP 69, CRID DECLARED A TAC-E AND AT APPROXIMATELY 2130 HOURS
AIRCRAFT WAS LAUNCHED FROM LANE AHP. THE CREW WAS NOT ADVISED OF THE WEATHER BY
EITHER THE OPERATIONS OFFICER OF THE 129TH AHC OR LANE TOWER. THE MISSION OF THE CREW
WAS TO EXTRACT ONE RALLIER FROM THE 11TH CO CAV REGT AND FLY THE RALLIER TO A ROK
HOSPITAL. ENROUTE THE CREW WAS TO PICK UP PERSONNEL FROM THE CRID TOC, WHICH THEY
DID AND THE CREW THEN REQUESTED AND RECEIVED PERMISSION TO FLY THROUGH THE PASS
NORTHWEST OF LANE AHP. THE AIRCRAFT ARRIVED AT THE 11TH COMPANY AT APPROXIMATELY
2155 HOURS AND DEPARTED AT 2205 HOURS. THE CREW CONTACTED PHU CAT APPROACH
CONTROL AND NOTIFIED THEM THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD GONE INTO IFR CONDITIONS AND
REQUESTED A RADAR VECTOR TO VFR CONDITIONS. THE PILOT REPORTED HIS ALTITUDE WAS 5,000
FEET AND REQUESTED A PRIORITY RADAR VECTOR FOR A GCA INTO PHY CAT AFB. THE PILOT
REPORTED HIS POSITION AS OVER THE CHA RANG VALLEY OFF THE 170 RADIAL FROM PHU CAT AFB.
PHU CAT APPROACH CONTROL COULD NOT MAKE A POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION BUT HAD A
SUSPECTED RADAR TARGET SEVEN MILES ON THE 170 RADIAL. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER
REPORTED HE WAS ENCOUNTERING SEVERE TURBULENCE. AT 2212 HOURS PHU CAT CONTROL
INSTRUCTED THE AC TO TURN INBOUND TO THE BEACON AND CLIMB TO 6000 FEET. THE PILOT
ROGERED THE CONTROLLER'S INSTRUCTION. THIS WAS THE LAST COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE
AIRCRAFT AND THE GROUND. AFTER RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST, THE DUST OFF AND GUNSHIPS
WERE LAUNCHED, HOWEVER, THE WEATHER CONDITIONS DID NOT PERMIT THE SEARCH AIRCRAFT
TO ARRIVE AT THE SCENE UNTIL 0030 HOURS. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED ON THE SIDE OF A
MOUNTAIN AT 1990 FEET AND 125 FEET FROM THE CREST OF THE MOUNTAIN. THE WRECKAGE
SUGGESTS THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A SLIGHTLY NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE AND WAS IN A SHALLOW
RIGHT HAND TURN. THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT SKID CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THERE WAS A BLADE
STRIKE ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE RIGHT SKID HIT NEXT AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS PITCHED FORWARD
AND UP THE HILL WHERE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE MAIN WRECKAGE REMAINED. THE ENGINE
WAS TOSSED FURTHER UP THE HILL AND THE TAIL BOOM SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE AND
CAME TO REST 75 FEET NORTH OF THE ENGINE. THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO HAVE BURNED DUE
TO IMPACT.
This record was last updated on 09/20/1998
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The following is crew member information for this incident:
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Name: X1 K. K. Huan
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/12/1969 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Service: Unknown service.
Service: Unknown service.
Short Summary: Hit mountain top IFR at night while getting radar help from Phy Cat AFB.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17257
Country: South Vietnam
Primary cause: A/C Accident
Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps.
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
This record was last updated on 10/24/1997
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Name: X1 K. Y. He
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/12/1969 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Service: Unknown service.
Service: Unknown service.
Short Summary: Hit mountain top IFR at night while getting radar help from Phy Cat AFB.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17257
Country: South Vietnam
Primary cause: A/C Accident
Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps.
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
This record was last updated on 10/24/1997
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Name: X1 K. H. Suk
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/12/1969 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Service: Unknown service.
Service: Unknown service.
Short Summary: Hit mountain top IFR at night while getting radar help from Phy Cat AFB.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17257
Country: South Vietnam
Primary cause: A/C Accident
Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps.
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
This record was last updated on 10/24/1997
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Name: SP4 Lawrence David Jackson (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/12/1969 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 21.0
Date of Birth: 09/11/1948
Home City: Coldwater, OH
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 129 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 18W-075
Short Summary: Hit mountain top IFR at night while getting radar help from Phy Cat AFB.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17257
SSN: 300382357
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N2F = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Primary cause: A/C Accident
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: crew chief
Started Tour: 12/19/1968
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Lutheran (Missouri Synod)
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 10/24/1997
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Name: PFC Stephan Lee Hargrave
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/12/1969 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 18.9
Date of Birth: 10/29/1950
Home City: Decatur, IL
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 129 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 18W-075
Short Summary: Hit mountain top IFR at night while getting radar help from Phy Cat AFB.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17257
SSN: 358424645
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N20 = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Primary cause: A/C Accident
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Started Tour: 04/07/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Binh Dinh Province II 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 10/24/1997
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Name: CW2 Stephen Anthony De Santis
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/12/1969 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 23.2
Date of Birth: 07/07/1946
Home City: Waterbury, CT
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 129 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 68-505/68-3
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 18W-074
Short Summary: Hit mountain top IFR at night while getting radar help from Phy Cat AFB.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17257
SSN: 045360757 Service number: W3160733
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 671C = Aircraft Repair Technician, Rotary Wing Rated
Primary cause: A/C Accident
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Started Tour: 10/21/1968
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 02
Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married 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: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 10/24/1997
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Name: WO1 Richard Arthur Sawran
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/12/1969 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 21.5
Date of Birth: 03/10/1948
Home City: Washington, NJ
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 129 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 68-23/68-41
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 18W-076
Short Summary: Hit mountain top IFR at night while getting radar help from Phy Cat AFB.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17257
SSN: 143382651 Service number: W3162627
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: pilot
Started Tour: 03/06/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Location: Binh Dinh Province II 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: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 10/24/1997
