On December 19th the Vultures were engaged in training exercises for newly arrived troops of the 101 Airborne at Phouc Vinh. One ship (65-09987) took off from the airfield with 6 troops on board for a practice
CA. However, as they turned downwind the engine failed at 200 feet. The AC, WO John F. Holz, attempted to extend his glide past a stand of rubber trees but the ship came down hard, bounced upside down and blew up, killing all 10 people on board. In addition to WO Holz, the lost crewmembers were WO Larry A. Harke (pilot),
SP4 Robert D. Kline (crewchief), and SP4 Anthony V. Campaniello (gunner).