Helicopter UH-1D 66-01200

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-01200
The Army purchased this helicopter 0367
Total flight hours at this point: 00000272
Date: 10/22/67
Incident number: 671022071ACD Accident case number: 671022071 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 170 AHC
South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 4 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 514554
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database. Also: OPERA (Operations Report. )
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
P WO1 STARK LAWRENCE J KIA
AC WO1 SUGHRUE PATRICK J KIA
CE SP4 GRIFFEE THOMAS LYNN KIA
G SP4 EICKHOLT ROBERT LEO KIA

Accident Summary:

The aircraft crashed and burned shortly after take off. The take off was low level never being more than 10 - 20 feet above the ground. The aircraft commander was at the controls. He struck a tree with the tail rotor. He then lost control of the aircraft which spun to the right, descended nose low to impact and exploded.

This record was last updated on 05/25/98

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: WO1 Patrick J Sughrue
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 10/22/67 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 20.4
Date of Birth: 06/08/47
Home City: Pittsburgh, PA
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 170 AHC
Major organization: other
Flight class: 67-11
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 28E-052
Short Summary: Tail rotor in trees and crashed near Pleiku.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-01200
Service number: W3157202
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 062B = Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Primary cause: A/C Accident
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: co-pilot
Started Tour: 09/15/67
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Location: Pleiku Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died while missing
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 07/29/94

Name: WO1 Lawrence J. Stark
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 10/22/67 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 21.6
Date of Birth: 03/07/46
Home City: Dayton, OH
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 170 AHC
Major organization: other
Flight class: 67-9
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 28E-050
Short Summary: Tail rotor in trees and crashed near Pleiku.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-01200
Service number: W3156930
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 062B = Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Primary cause: Tail Rotor
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Started Tour: 08/11/67
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Location: Pleiku Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died while missing
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: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 08/20/95

Name: SP4 Thomas Lynn Griffee
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 10/22/67 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 19.9
Date of Birth: 11/29/47
Home City: Rifle, CO
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 170 AHC
Major organization: other
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 28E-049
Short Summary: Flew into a tree while flying low level. All four crew members were killed.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-01200
Call sign: Bikini
Service number: 16914187
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: crew chief
Started Tour: 05/29/67
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Location: Pleiku Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died while missing
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 07/30/95

Name: SP4 Robert Leo Eickholt
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 10/22/67 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 20.8
Date of Birth: 01/21/47
Home City: Ft Jennings, OH
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 170 AHC
Major organization: other
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 28E-049
Short Summary: Flew into a tree flying low level.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-01200
Service number: 51873732
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11B2F = Infantryman
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Started Tour: 11/28/66
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Pleiku Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died while missing
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: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/30/95

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-01200
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 0367.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6703   1    1 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN   6TH ARMY   SHARPE GD        AVCOM          
6704   0    1 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN   6TH ARMY   SHARPE GD        AVCOM          
6705   0    1 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN   6TH ARMY   SHARPE GD        AVCOM          
6706  38   39 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6707  61  100 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6708  67  167 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6709 105  272 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN

Please send additions or corrections to:

Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870

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Printed from databases on: 02/27/99

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