April 17, 1966: Iraqi president Abd al-Salam Muhammad Arif dies in a helicopter crash.
Upon his death, President Abd al-Salam Muhammad Arif of Iraq is succeeded by his older brother, Abd al-Rahman Arif.
Coups and Coup Attempts in Iraq
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query /r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+iq0022 )
A history of coups, coup attempts, and foreign policy in Iraq