Incident Overview
Date: Sunday 18 June 1972
Aircraft Type: Lockheed AC-130A Spectre
Owner/operator: United States Air Force – USAF
Registration Number: 55-0043
Location: W of A Shau Valley –
ÿ Vietnam
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 15
Component Affected: Number 3 engineNumber 3 engine
On October 26, 1968, the Hercules, call sign ‘Spectre 11,’ suffered a catastrophic engine failure during a night reconnaissance mission. The aircraft was struck by a 9K32 Strela-2 shoulder-fired missile, resulting in a significant loss of power and subsequent separation of the right wing. The airplane crashed in the rugged jungle covered mountains west of the A Shau Valley.On October 26, 1968, the Hercules, call sign ‘Spectre 11,’ suffered a catastrophic engine failure during a night reconnaissance mission. The aircraft was struck by a 9K32 Strela-2 shoulder-fired missile, resulting in a significant loss of power and subsequent separation of the right wing. The airplane crashed in the rugged jungle covered mountains west of the A Shau Valley.
Description
The Hercules, call sign “Spectre 11,” was conducting a night armed reconnaissance mission to attack elite NVA forces known to be infiltrating from Laos into South Vietnam along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Spectre 11 was making its second attack pass over the target area when it received a direct hit in the number 3 engine by a 9K32 Strela-2 shoulder-fired, surface-to-air missile (also known as SA-7). A small explosion occurred and the right wing separated from the aircraft. The airplane descended in flames and crashed in the rugged jungle covered mountains west of the A Shau Valley.
Source of Information
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1857801156/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=aviationsafetyne&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1857801156http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1857801156/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=aviationsafetyne&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1857801156Primary Cause
A direct hit by a 9K32 Strela-2 shoulder-fired, surface-to-air missile.A direct hit by a 9K32 Strela-2 shoulder-fired, surface-to-air missile.Share on:
