HOTEL GOLF - CRASH OF

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06235963
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: August 14, 2020
• Case Number: F-2014-00402
• Publication Date: June 9, 1961

Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 C06235963
06
MEMORANDUM
TO VIDO
7.-e+++-1111�T�LALL)
DATE: 9 June 1961
FROM : DSY REF. No. DSY-61-1136
SUBJECT: Hotel Golf - Crash Of
1. Hotel Golf crashed at about 1615L on 30 May 1961 at Ban Padong, Laos.
The pilot, Walter L. P. WEBOWSKI and co-pilot, Charles H. NATEER were killed.
The crew chief, Dale KLOCK was 'badly shaken up and in a state of shock.
_ 2. Dale KLOCK was interviewed by the DSY on 31 May in Room 111, Erevan
Rotel, Bangkok. The interview lasted from 1130 .until 1205. KLOCK stated that
on the night of 29 May they were EON at the Padong alternate Base. iAbout 1500
on 30 May they took off from the alternate Base for Padong. Aboard Were the
pilot, co-pilot and crew chief, one LTAC member and one Laotian soldier. The
cargo consisted of 10 or 11 cases af 75 NM AMMO., C-Rations and personal baggage.
KLOCK stated the aircraft was in good condition at the time of take-off. He
said it had an new engine with about only 15 hrs on it. He also said that
neither the pilot noe.co,pilot reported anything wrong with the aircraft either
on that day or the previous day.
Regarding.the weather, KLOCK said it was a fairly clear day with
scattered clouds and little wind at the time of take-oft. He indicated the
weather remained much the same enroute to Padong.
'KLOCK reported that they crossed the maintain base to Padong and
started to circle to make their approach. TheY'were still at altitude and
went into a cloud. At that point visibility beame zero... In a matter of
minutes he saw'tree tops and almost simultaneouely they hit the tree tops and
seconds later flew into the trees and crashed to' the ground. KLOCK said he
remained conscious-. He got out of the aircraft. He noticed that the engines
was still running. He crawled up to the cockpit, found the cockpit windshield
missing, reached in and cut off the magneto. The engine did not atop so he
pulled back the idle cut off. The engine then stopped. He said he yelled to
the pilot and co-pilot but received no answer. Both appeared unconscious to
him and he felt certain that the co.-pilot was dead. He crawled back down to
look for the 2 passengers to help. He said he went to the passenger compartment
and found the passengers had already crawled out of the aircraft :He asked them
to help but the American said he could not. Just about that time several Athericans,
arrived at the seene and took over. They found the pilot and co-pilot both dead.
KLOCK said he was escorted out and walked through the jungle to the Padong land- .
ing site which was only about 300 yards from the scene of the crash. He believes /
he was only at the crash -scene for about-15 minutes from the time of the crash
until he departed. .
KLOCK said he was flew from Padong to Vientiane almost immediately.
From Vientiane he departed right away-for Bangkok aboard a 0-46. He stated
he remained at an Air Force facility at Don Nuahg airport during the .nightit,rr
) medical observation: KLOCK said he was released about 0900 on 31 May. The
.Dr. informed him he was all right and received no physical injuried., 1
-3-4 �R2
Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 C06235963
Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 C06235963
-2-
3. Robert J. CAMPBELL was interviewed by the DSY on 1 June 1961 at UDORN.
The interview lasted from 0825 until 0915. CAMPBELT is a pilot. He reported
that he flew Hotel Victor to the alternate Padong Base on the evening of 29 May.
He said he and his co-pilot EARLEY operated with MATEER and WIZBOWSKI who were
flying Hotel Boll on 29 and 30 May. Both crews were RON at the alternate Padong
Base on the night of 29 May due to weather at Padong. CAMPBELL said that the
distance from the alternate base to Padong is about 10 minutes flight time.
He Said on 30 hay the weather in the general area was marginal. On
that day Hotel Golf and Hotel Victor were operating 'independently but both were
in the same general area around Padong. CAMPBELL said he was enroute to Padong
and arrived about ten minutes after Hotel Golf Crashed. :He said the weather
upon arrival at Padong was very poor.. He explained that.. he Padong landing site,
"sits in a bowl and the weather there changes rapidly, the general weather was
scattered clouds with bases of clouds varying from the deck up to four thousand
feet, and the approach area upon our arrival was zero zero". (see chart)
nAMPBELL stated he arrived at:Padang around 1615L, to the beet of his
collection. He said no one was out at the landing pad so he shut down hie
aircraft. By the time the rotor stopped.a US civilian named TOM came over the
hill and yelled that Hotel Golf had crashed and the pilot and co,-pilot both
were killed and the others injured. -CMPBELL said he 'refueled immediately and
prepared to evacuate the wounded. He said that he had no time to, go to the site
of the crash. He departed about 1645L for Vientiane. with the three wounded -
aboard. he stated that. the crew chief, Dale KLOCK, was too 'shaken to talk.
The LTAG member was in pain and not in a position to talk and he could say
nothing to the Laotian 'soldier because of the language bear.
CAMPBELL was asked whether or not any of the crew members of Hotel
Golf had complained in anyway, either on 29 or 30 May, regarding the mechanic
condition of Hotel Golf. He replied that he never heard anything from the Hotel
Golf crew which indicated that the aircraft was not in good mechanicticondition.
4. The DSY interviewed pilot Neal E. EARLEY at 'DORM on 1 June 1961. The
interview lasted from 0955 until 1025. EARLEY was CAMPBELL's co-pilot on Hotel
Victor. He reported that they were operating in the Padong area on 29 and 30
May with aircraft Hotel Golf. He said that the crews of both Hotel Victor and
Hotel Golf had to RON at the alternate Padong Base (YATMOU) on the night of 29
May because of bad weather at Padong. EARLEY'reported that they flew into Padong
with Hotel Victor about ten minutes after Hotel Golf.
Regarding the weather, EARLEY stated that, "at the time We approached
Padong, we had low hanging clouds, pretty well broken but moving fast and small,
scattered clouds. The ridges were fairly well covered bnA the pass we came over,
was clear. I noticed when we came in we had a little trouble and the clouds
moved in the opposite direction from the wind. I know the clouds move fast in
that area and it is tricky to come into Padong when weather is not too good".,
EARLEY said they landed at Padong about 1630L. No Americans were in
the area.. He was concerned because they always meet the aircraft. About that
time he Saw a Sgt. running toward his aircraft. The Sgt. reported that Hotel
Golf had crashed. ENfiLEY stated he than started towards the trash site but
saw a group approaching from that area. The crew chief of Hotel Golf was in
the group and, according to EARLEY, appeared all right. EARLEY said, "I made
him meet Ty eyes and he was coherent". EARLEY also stated, "I asked him' what
happened and he said they were OK down wind and they started to make their
approach and got in a cloud and could not see and that was the last thing he
could remember".
Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 C06235963
Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 C06235963
, EARLEY saifle then returned to his plane with ELOOK. Es never did
go to the site of. the crash. � He was: on the ground, at Padong aboUt 30 minutes.
during which time they refueled and loaded the wounded aboard the aircraft.
EARLEY reported they then flew directly to Vientiane... The weather was good
all the way.
Just prior to departing for Vientiane, EARLEY stated he was talking'
with an American Sgt. from-LTAG who told him he witnessed Hotel Golf plunging
into some tall heavy trees. The Sgt. said he just happened to be in that �area-
at.the time.and the first.thinghe heard.was a poppinglnoise like blades hitting
the trees. He 'Said he looked up and, saw' the plane hitting the trees:. � '
' � EARLEY reported that during his conversation with the creW.of-Hotel
o09 and 30 May there was no indication that any of them had any complainte
. . about the. mechanical condition of. the aircraft. H.
- �
5. John-H.-SEOOT was 'Interviewed by the OS! on 1 June 1961 at UnORH. The
interviewlested from 0705 until 0740.' 'SNOUT reported that he was dispatched
from DDORH for-thp-seene of the-crash on 30 May. He arrived at the padong about
1800L. TMe 'went immediately to the. crash site which' as about 300 yearda from ..
where he landed:: 'When-he arrived he found one American there, name unknown,
and -several Laotian soldiers who 'were guarding the aircraft. 'The bodies of
the pilot and co-pilot were still .in the aircraft. The contents in the cabin,' . �
had all:been removed prior to his arrival.:-SPOOT stated that he removed the
bodies from. the aircraft with the aSsistance of the' local 'soldiers.
' SMOOT reported that he found the aircraft to be broken from the aft
section of the radio compartment. He said the rotor.blades Were in pieces .
and the transmission was to the left about 90 degrees on. a horizontal position
.and about 2i feet off the cabin floor. He further stated that the instruments
on the left side- of the cockpit were smashed,, the pilot collective was out to ,
the left about 45 degrees and the cockpit canopy on the left side was missing. �
He said that the struts were mashed up into the aireraft.
. . SNOUT reported that the trees in the area of the crash were about CO
to 100 feet tall. The aircraft hit a very large tree which was flattened by
the impact.' He! stated that it appears to him that the pilot had been making'
his approach and was off too far to the right, resulting in his hitting the -
ridge as it started to slope upward. It seems to him that the aircraft took'
off the top of the first tree it-hit and them continued about 30 yards after
the initial impact.
. SNOUT said that the bodies were removed about 1710L and were 'Wrapped. �
in parachutes then placed in wooden boxes where they remained overnight. Poor .
weather prevented their departure.- He and CRAFTS flew the remains to Vientiane.
on 31 Key, departing from�IDORN about.0534L.
When questioned regarding the weather' at the time they arrived on
the scene on 30 May, SMOOT stated, "It was 'marginal and we were lucky to get
in".
6. Richard D. CRAFTS, pilot, was interviewed
The interview�lasted from 0745 until 0820. CRAFTS
to the scene of the crash on 31 Kay to recover the
. wounded. He said they 'arrived there. about 1745L.
on 1 June 1961 at UDOEW.
stated he flew with SMOOT
bodies and evacuate the
The weather upon their
Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 C06235963
Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 C06235963
� �
- 4 -
Arrival-was broken to scattered Cl0P4 layers at, About-5200-feet. There was a
light drizzle and visibility was limited to a maximum of ig'milesubut most of
the time it was 5 to 6.Miles.
� CRAFTS said that the first thing he noticed when he arrived at the
scene of the crash was that the tail pylon had been broken off right at the fold
of the pylon.' He noticed that it Waa.lying down and next to a.tree to the left
of. the aircraft and several feet Say. Ze.said heisaw the-transmission and.
rotor � head had�been torn loose from the mounts and Were off to the side. The �
transmissiOn.was�to the left ancitioe&in a horizontal position.; the rotor head
was hanging off the head of the transmission. All four :rotor blades were stick-
ing aft, upward and to the left of the aircraft and all in the-eaMegeneral
position and direction. He observed that'the cockpit roof had been, torn off �
from the instrument.panel on back. He also noted that the aft end of the cockpit
had been sheared' Off. just below the .ASE motor box and the roof had been peeled
back and. was lying on top of the transmission deck. The pilot seat as still
intact. The pilot collective was. up to the left and the throttle lindage was
.broken. The miitnre and carburetor lever were missing. All of the pilots
instruments seemed to be intact but CRAFTS said he did not check any of the
readings. He reported that the instruments on the-co-pilot side were all broken.
The.co-pilot-peat wae. pushed down and aft and folded slightly. He' did not riptide
the co-pilet collective. The cabin floor of the cockpit and passenger Compart-
ment were both intact. The cabin roof. was caved seightly and the sound. proofing
material was hanging down at some &pots. The crew chief seats was down but the
other seats were folded up .against the aide of the aircraft. All gear had been
removed from the interior Of the cabin.. The cabin door was only partially opened
and would not slide free. The radio compartment and most of the electronics..
gear was intact. All windows had been knocked out of the aircraft.- The landing
gear was folded back and torn loose from the belly of the aircraft. The vertical
struts were bent and were in fairly good shape. The belly of the aircraft was
meshed and resting about 6 to 8 ietcheS from the ground. CRAFTS further reported
that aCcording to his oteervationS'the'aircraft seemed to come in at a 20 degree.
angle from the point of initial impact until it came :to rest on the ground. He
estimated that the aircraft travelled about 30 feet forward from the point of
initial impact until it came to a stop. Itappears� to him that the top of
trees were cut off and one tree, about 8 inches in diameter had been
knocked down. CRAFTS took photographs which are being processed and are being
made a 'Darter this report. �
� ,
Regarding the condition of the bodies as observed by CRAFTS) he reported
that WIZBOTOJSKI was in the pilotseet.'. He was back against the aeate arms down
in his lap; head thrown back with his mouth open. He had 'a deep gash about 4
inches on his upper right arm. HIS face appeared to.be in good condi*don.� He
helped lift. the body to the grounciand observed the beak. of the T-shirt was
soaked with blood: He did hot see WIEBOWSKI,s.hardhat. Regarding MATEER, hid
body hadebeen removed from the :aircraft and CRAFTS saw him for the first time
when they were preparing to Wrap him in the chutea. It appeared that he had .
been �dedapitated-and that both arms had.been severed;
-CRAFTS stated he would like to express' his personal opinion that MATEER
.mey have been flying.. He believes, uPon hie Obeervation,ethatfldi4SMISKIls hands -
Were in his lap and bore no .visible. signs Of injury. He belieees.iiNIZHOUSKI
had been flying his hands would .have been smashed .because of holding on to the
collective) which was twisted and beht and.the. throttle broken.. � � .
Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 C06235963
Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 C06235963
-5-
.7. Willie L. NEW, -crew chief, was interviewed on 1 June 1961 at HOORN.
The interview lasted from 0930 to 0950. NEW was the crew chief on Hotel Whiskey,
flown by SNOUT and CRAFTS, which was dispatched to WORN on 30 May to the scene
of the crash. NEW confirmed that they arrived at Padong at 1800L. He stated
the weather upon their arrival was, "pretty cloudy with scattered clouds over
the site and they had to circle around some bad weather before coming.to land."
He continued by stating,"We went immediately to the scene of the crash. My im-
pression was, "You could tell at first glance that the aircraft was a Complete
scratch and that the pilot and co-pilot were probably killed. The transmission
was ripped 'completely out of the transmission deck and was laying over on the
left side of the aircraft. The pylon was broken completely off. The engine
was rammed Up into the clutch compartment and the clutch was almost up ihto the
cockpit with the pilot and co-pilot. Both landing gear were buckled. The tail
rotor was completely missing. I don't know where it was. Rotor blades were all
broken and kind of scattered around. The top of the cockpit was lifted off com-
pletely. The LTAO said when they came to the scene they just lifted the cockpit
off - it was loose -without cutting it or anything. Most of the instruments
on the co-pilot side were all broken. The belly seemed fairly well intact.".
When asked about the path of the aircraft after initial impact, NEW
said; "The trees Were high and thick. It did not travel too far from the first
point of contatt to where it settled. It hit a real large tree and Chopped it
off. It traveled about three aircraft lengths before it settled and then-hit
another large tree and seemed to settle right down. The scene was on a slope
but I do not know how far up - and it was about 200 yeards from the landing pad.
The bodies were still in the cockpit when I arrived but I did not climb up to
see them. I saw them as they were being removed. I did not help remove them.
I. just stayed a few minutes after the bodies were re3Eoved. MATEER's hard hat'
with part of his head in it and an arm were lying on the ground just to the left
of the co-pilots seat. I did not see his body at any time. I saw the pilots.
I did not look too close but I saw blood all over the back of his shirt, I did
not want to look too close".
Donald N. Rinker
cc: file
Approved for Release: 2020/08/11 C06235963