6916445
Information on U.S. Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 69-16445
The Army purchased this helicopter 0570
Total flight hours at this point: 00000204
Date: 03/05/71
Accident case number: 710305011
Unit: B/7/1 CAV
The station for this helicopter was Quang Tri in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 1
costing 90000
Crew Members:
AC W1 LATHAM ED
P W1 DOWNING GP
Passengers:
UNK, LCO, G;
Accident Summary:
ON THE MORNING OF 5 MARCH, 1971, AIRCRAFT ^69-16445^, AN AH-1G, DEPARTED THE QUANG TRI BASE AT APPROXIMATELY 07:30 LOCAL, ENROUTE TO KHE SANH. WHEREUPON THEIR MISSION WOULD BE FIRE SUPPORT AND RECONNAISSANCE FOR THE ARVN IN THE KINGDOM OF LAOS. ON THE FLIGHT ENROUTE TO KHE SANH THE AC ENCOUNTERED DETERIORATING WEATHER. APPROXIMATELY AT VANDERGRIFF FIRE SUPPORT BASE AT CO-ORDINATES 998445, THE AC WAS FORCED TO GO LOW LEVEL BECAUSE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS AND ARTILLERY FIRE OUT OF THE FIRE SUPPORT BASE. AT THIS TIME THE AC DETERMINED THAT KHE SANH, THE FIRST BASE OF INTENDED LANDING WAS IFR AND THAT HE SHOULD RETURN TO HIS HOME BASE. THE AC THEN RELATED TO HIS CO-PILOT THAT THEY WOULD BE RETURNING TO QUANG TRI AND HE WOULD BE CHANGING FREQUENCIES. AT THE SAME TIME THE PILOT IN THE FRONT SEAT GLANCED AT HIS WATCH AND HIS INSTRUMENTS, WHEN LOOKING UP HE SAW A HILL SHROUDED IN FOG. HE HOLLERED TO THE AC WHO AT THE SAME SECOND PULLED IN POWER AND AFT CYCLIC TO CLIMB OVER THE HILL. THE AIRCRAFT FLEW THROUGH VERY TALL GRASS WHICH FROM THE CO-PILOT'S OBSERVATION CAME UP TO THE ROCKET PODS. ON IMPACT THE AIRCRAFT WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 100 KNOTS BUT WAS SLOWED DOWN CONSIDERABLY. NEVERTHELESS THE AC MAINTAINED CONTROL OVER THE AIRCRAFT AND PULLED IT OUT. AN INSPECTION FROM HIS WING MAN REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFTS LEFT SKID WAS DANGLING FROM ITS MOUNT. THE AC AT THIS TIME INFORMED HIS REAR CONTROL THAT HE HAD A MISHAP AND WAS RETURNING AT THIS TIME. REAR CONTROL SET UP SANDBAGS IN WHICH TO SUPPORT THE AIRCRAFT. UPON RETURNING TO QUANG TRI THE AIRCRAFT WAS REFUELED AT A HOVER, AND THEN FROM THERE THE AIRCRAFT WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SAND BAGS AND WAS SAFELY SET DOWN WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO EITHER PILOT.
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 69-16445
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 0570.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 7005 0 0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 7006 0 0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 7007 0 0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 7008 0 0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 7009 0 0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 7010 0 0 W0Y6AA USA FLT OPN OFC 5TH ARMY ST LOUIS AMC 7011 0 0 W0Y6AA USA FLT OPN OFC 5TH ARMY ST LOUIS AMC 7012 85 85 WGZ6B0 B 7S 1 CV SQ VIETNAM RVN 7101 0 85 WGZ6B0 B TRP 7 1ST ACS VIETNAM RVN 7102 104 189 WGZ6B0 B TRP 7 1ST ACS VIETNAM RVN 7103 15 204 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7104 0 204 WE4HAA B BTRY 4 77 ART VIETNAM RVN 7105 3 207 WC3EAA 48 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7106 53 260 WC3EAA 48 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7107 45 305 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7108 33 338 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7109 65 403 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7110 2 405 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7111 31 436 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7112 28 464 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7201 60 524 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7202 48 572 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7203 32 604 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7204 96 700 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7205 98 798 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7206 35 833 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7207 42 875 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7208 34 909 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7209 0 909 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7210 0 909 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7211 0 909 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7212 0 909 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7301 0 909 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7302 0 909 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7303 0 909 W0Y6AA AVSCOM PROJECT LOAN ST LOUIS AVSCOM 7304 0 909 W0Y6AA NASA LOAN LANGLY RSH CTR AVSCOM 7305 0 909 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7306 0 909 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7307 0 909 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7308 1 910 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7309 12 922 W0U48A INST MAINT FLT 1ST ARMY FT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7310 9 931 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7311 8 939 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7312 2 941 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7401 14 955 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7402 34 989 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7403 22 1011 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7404 50 1061 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7405 22 1083 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7406 24 1107 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7410 10 1138 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7411 7 1145 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7412 2 1147 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7501 0 1147 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7502 0 1147 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7503 0 1147 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7504 12 1159 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7505 1 1160 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7506 29 1189 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7507 9 1198 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7508 0 1198 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7509 19 1217 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7510 0 1217 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7511 0 1217 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7512 0 1217 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM
Please send additions or corrections to:
Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870