The Air Force and the Air Force Times have published articles releasing information on the crash of an F-15E Strike Eagle in Afghanistan in July.  The crash claimed the lives of the both the fighter pilot, Capt Mark McDowell, and the WSO, Capt Thomas Granith.

The investigation determined that the two-man crew was executing a simulated attack for training on their way back to base.  The planned attack was a high-angle night strafe against a ground target.  After their flight lead aborted a simulated attack due to poor parameters, the wingmen executed their attack and impacted the ground.

Night attacks on night vision goggles (NVGs) are extremely challenging.  While some may find it difficult to believe that a pilot could simply fly into the ground, it is important to note that executing NVG attacks is generally done with a complete lack of cultural lighting and other clues that would otherwise provide a pilot with depth perception and feeling of height (or ground rush).  They fly into the ground because they think they’re much higher than they really are.

An almost identical set of circumstances led to the fatal crash of an F-16 in June, just a month prior to this incident.

Both aircraft do have systems that, when working properly, warn pilots that ground impact is imminent.  However, if the system sounds a warning when the pilot doesn’t expect it (he doesn’t know he is as close to the ground as he really is), the momentary confusion may be enough of a delay to prevent a safe recovery.  The result is known as “CFIT,” or “Controlled Flight into Terrain,” which is what happens when an aviator flies a perfectly functional airplane into the ground, generally unaware.

Years ago, the military began research on technology that would allow the aircraft to “take control” from the pilot in order to avoid a collision with the ground.  NASA is currently conducting tests on such a system.