According to news reports, the July C-17 crash that killed four crewmembers shortly after takeoff in Alaska was caused by pilot error. The report’s press release and a video of the C-17 takeoff (up to just prior to impact), are available on the PACAF website. (The video has already made it to YouTube as well.)
The Air Force announced that pieces of the ejection seat were found at the impact site of the F-22 crash in Alaska, indicating the pilot, Capt Jeffrey Haney, did not eject and therefore did not survive the crash.
Haney is survived by his parents, a wife, and two young daughters. As noted at the official Air Force release (and as previously highlighted by Dealer):
The Air Warrior Courage Foundation has set up an education fund for Captain Haney’s children. Donations to the college fund for Captain Haney’s daughters may be made at www.AirWarriorCourage.org specifying “For the Jeffrey Haney children.” Or, donations can be made by check made out to AWCF, and mailed to AWCF, PO Box 877, Silver Spring, MD 20918-0877. The “For” line on the check should designate “For the Jeffrey Haney children.”
As noted at Military.com, FoxNews, CNN, and the ADN.
Elmendorf Air Force Base reported the loss of an F-22 late Tuesday night. The crash site was discovered Wednesday, and news releases from the base indicate crews are continuing to search for signs the pilot may have ejected and survived.
It appears the mishap aircraft was executing a rejoin at the end of a night sortie when it simply, and quietly, disappeared.
Elmendorf AFB recently lost a C-17 and its four crewmembers. The last F-22 to crash was at Edwards AFB; the pilot did not survive.
The Air Force Times notes that aviation mishaps in the US Air Force fell for a second straight year:
Twenty-two major accidents occurred in fiscal 2010, compared with 30 in fiscal 2009. Seven airmen died in crashes, four more than the year before. The most accidents recorded were 2,274 in 1952. The deadliest year was also 1952, when 1,214 crew members and passengers died.
Perhaps more interesting is the comparison between manned and unmanned (or remotely piloted) aircraft: Read more
In a seemingly rough week for aircraft, a student and instructor successfully ejected from their T-6A Texan II near Laughlin AFB, Texas, late last week. As usual, it will be more than 30 days before a report is released on the cause.
In India, a pilot successfully ejected from his MiG-27 before it crashed.
And according to FoxNews, a commuter jet had an unsafe gear and scraped a wing down the runway in New York. (Video on YouTube.)
Updated with names of crew.
The Air Force announced that a C-17 Globemaster III crashed shortly after takeoff from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, on Wednesday, killing the four crewmembers. There are indications the crew was practicing for the upcoming Arctic Thunder airshow this weekend. While large aircraft occasionally have incidents on landing or on the ground, the catastrophic loss of a military cargo aircraft from a flight mishap is a relatively rare event.
Elmendorf leaders have announced the 2010 Arctic Thunder airshow will proceed as planned.
As is the common practice, the Air Force did not speculate and will conduct a month-long investigation to determine the cause.
UPDATE: The Air Force released the names of those killed on the C-17:
Maj. Michael Freyholtz
Maj. Aaron Malone
Capt. Jeffrey Hill
Master Sgt. Thomas Cicardo
Dong Yun Yoon, whose family was killed when a crippled F/A-18 Hornet crashed into their home, has reportedly filed a lawsuit against the federal government and Boeing for negligence. The Navy has reportedly settled 24 claims totaling more than $800,000 over the crash, with 10 claims totaling $14.4 million outstanding.
Yoon’s lawyers received a letter Monday from the Navy Office of the Judge Advocate General, which had been negotiating with the crash victims, rejecting the last of the Yoon family’s administrative claims for wrongful death and personal injury…
Yoon’s reaction to the crash was notable, as he called on people to pray for the pilot rather than blame him.
There is no indication the pilot is individually liable or party to the lawsuit.
Canadian Capt. Brian Bews ejected from his CF-18 just moments before it impacted the ground at the Lethbridge County Airport in Alberta, Canada. CNN.com carries a professional video of the crash captured from the reviewing stand. In an interesting irony, the music playing from the flight line speakers is “Stayin’ Alive.”
High resolution photos of the incident taken by Ian Martens of the Lethbridge Herald show the ejection sequence in amazingly precise detail.
The first picture shows the seat leaving the aircraft: Read more