Air Force says F-22 Crash was Pilot Error

The Air Force Times reports on the Air Force investigation of the F-22 crash in Alaska in November, 2010.  The report

blames the Nov. 16, 2010, crash of an F-22 Raptor on Capt. Jeff “Bong” Haney — despite a malfunction of the jet’s bleed air intakes, which caused an automatic shutdown of multiple aircraft systems including the primary oxygen system.

In essence, the report says his oxygen system failed, but that he should have been able to maintain control of the aircraft and activate his emergency systems.  Instead, he became disoriented during the night flight and hit the ground.

“I find the cause of the mishap was the MP’s [mishap pilot] failure to recognize and initiate a timely dive recovery due to channelized attention, breakdown of visual scan and unrecognized spatial disorientation,” wrote Brig. Gen. James Browne, president of the AIB.

The article says fellow F-22 pilots have described the emergency oxygen system as “notoriously difficult” to operate.

While finding Haney at fault, the Air Force also awarded a $24 million contract to Lockheed — to fix the oxygen problem.