The US Air Force released the investigative report on the May 2013 crash of an F-15C Eagle off the coast of Japan:
The jet stopped responding to flight control inputs…The pilot was not able to recover from a left descending spiral — after trying for 20 seconds — and ejected at 4,500 feet above sea level.
While the board did cite mechanical failure, there were also Read more
The Air Force has released a report indicating the August midair collision of two F-16s off the coast of Virginia was caused by one of the pilot’s poor sleep habits:
The accident investigation report by Air Combat Command says the pilot had trouble balancing his Air National Guard and civilian careers and only had about four hours of sleep each night in the 48 hours prior to the August collision. The pilot needed Read more
The Air Force has reported that a T-38 that crashed in July near Sheppard Air Force Base was brought down by a bird that shattered the canopy and took out an engine:
Sheppard officials said Tuesday the bird struck the jet’s canopy, shattering it and sending fragments into an engine that then failed.
The incident was compounded by the pilots’ attempts to execute a turn that increased drag. The jet lost airspeed, then stalled.
The crew safely ejected.
The Air Force recently began researching the possibility of updating the canopies on the 50+ year old T-38 fleet. Their T-X replacement trainers have reportedly been held up by government budget issues.
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The Air Force released two investigation reports blaming pilots for two separate F-16 crashes this year.
In the first, Capt Lucas Gruenther was killed when he ejected from his F-16 during a night training sortie over the Adriatic Sea. The Air Force said:
The board president, Brig. Gen. Derek P. Rydholm, found clear and convincing evidence that the pilot Read more
The Navy reported that a T-45C Goshawk crashed while on approach to Naval Air Station Pensacola. The two-man crew was hospitalized.
The two aircrew aboard a U.S. Navy T-45C Goshawk aircraft that crashed this morning at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. are stable and are being treated at a local hospital.
At approximately 10:30 a.m. today, a U.S. Navy T-45C Goshawk aircraft crashed at the approach end of a runway at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.
The articles do not address whether the crew attempted to eject.
Also at the Stars and Stripes and Navy Times.
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The Air Force Times reports on the Air Force investigation that determined Capt James Steel was flying visually when he impacted a mountain during his recovery to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, in April of this year:
The report released by Air Combat Command officials at Langley Air Force Base, Va., says 29-year-old Capt. James Michael Steel crashed April 3 about 12 miles outside Bagram Air Field…
The report says Steel flew into a mountainous area obscured by poor weather conditions and that he did not attempt to eject before slamming into the mountain. The report says Steel was flying below the minimum safe altitude at the time of the crash.
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Two US Air National Guard F-16s collided over the ocean near the coast of Virginia. One pilot ejected, the other recovered his aircraft:
Two Air National Guard fighter jets collided midair, forcing one of the pilots to eject into the sea and be rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter a few hours later off the Virginia coast, officials said Friday.
The other pilot involved in the collision was able to fly back to Joint Base Andrews, Md. Both jets were from the 113th Wing D.C. Air National Guard and were on a routine training mission
The Coast Guard took the unusual step of posting a video of the at-sea rescue on the internet:
Also at the Stars and Stripes.
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The two-man crew of a T-38C at Sheppard AFB ejected with minor injuries on Friday. As with the prior F-16 mishap a few weeks ago, there are already reports that the jet was downed by a birdstrike. One of the pilots reportedly descended through the fireball.
The Air Force took the unusual approach of rapidly identifying the crew:
Maj. Christopher Thompson was instructing a member of the German Air Force, identified…as 1st Lt. Julius Dressbach.
As with all mishaps, the Air Force will investigate and report on its outcome. Until then, a video of the wreckage has already made the internet.
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