Spence, Alex C., Jr., WO1

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 65-09454
Incident number: 700620091ACD Accident case number: 700620091
Total loss or fatality Accident
The station for this helicopter was Can-Tho in IV Corps
Number killed in accident = 3 . . Injured = 1 . . Passengers = 0
Source from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center Database.

Crew Members:

AC WO1 SPENCE ALEX C JR KIA
P WO1 COLATRUGLIO ROBERT F KIA
CE E3 G CATLETT  (Survived)
G SP4 LUTZ JOSEPH PATRICK KIA


Accident Summary:

 THE PILOT IN COMMAND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF DESTROYING AN ENEMY "HOOTCH" WHICH HE HAD SEEN TWO ENEMY PERSONNEL ENTER. HE RECEIVED PERMISSION TO ENGAGE THE TARGET AND BEGAN HIS ROCKET RUN FROM SOUTH TO NORTH. THE WIND WAS FROM APPROXIMATELY 210 DEGREES AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 10 KNOTS. THE AVERAGE ELEVATION OF THE TARGET WAS ABOUT MEAN SEA LEVEL, HOWEVER, THE TREES AROUND THE TARGET REACHED HEIGHTS OF 50 TO 75 FEET. WARRANT OFFICER SPENCE BEGAN HIS ROCKET RUN AT ABOUT 200 TO 300 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL. HIS SLANT ANGLE WAS STEEPER THAN NORMAL AND APPEARED TO WITNESSES TO BE ABOUT 45 TO 60 DEGREES. HE ONLY HAD TIME TO FIRE ONE ROCKET WHEN HE REALIZED HIS LOW ALTITUDE AND HE BEGAN TO MAKE A PULL OUT STRAIGHT AHEAD. BECAUSE OF THE STEEP DIVE ANGLE THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE TREES BEFORE HE COULD STOP HIS RATE OF DECENT. EITHER THE LEFT FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT OR THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HIT THE TREES FIRST, CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO TUMBLE END OVER END. IT TURNED 360 DEGREES END OVER END IN THE AIR AND CONTINUED TO TUMBLE. ON THE NEXT ROTATION IT STRUCK THE GROUND IN AN INVERTED POSITION ON THE RIGHT FRONT CORNER OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT BURST INTO FLAMES APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 30 SECONDS AFTER IT CONTACTED THE GROUND.\\

This record was last updated on 05/25/1998

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