ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 269686
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Date: | Friday 19 November 2021 |
Time: | 10:14 |
Type: | Northrop T-38C Talon |
Owner/operator: | US Air Force (USAF) |
Registration: | 68-8121 |
MSN: | T.6126 |
Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
Other fatalities: | 1 |
Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
Category: | Accident |
Location: | Laughlin AFB (DLF), TX -
United States of America
|
Phase: | |
Nature: | Military |
Departure airport: | Del Rio-Laughlin AFB, TX (DLF/KDLF) |
Destination airport: | Del Rio-Laughlin AFB, TX (DLF/KDLF) |
Investigating agency: | USAF AIB |
Confidence Rating: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Narrative:Two USAF T-38C Talon aircraft (68-8121 and 70-1586) collided during the landing phase to runway 13C following a formation approach at Del Rio-Laughlin Air Force Base (AFB), Texas. Both aircraft were assigned to the 47th Flying Training Wing (FTW) at Laughlin AFB, TX.
The sortie was a local formation flight and was the student pilot’s fourth formation event in the T-38C Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training program. The fFormation consisted of an Instructor Pilot occupying the front cockpit
of 68-8121, an Instructor Pilot occupying the rear cockpit of 70-1586, and the student occupying the front seat.
The formation planned for 68-8121 to lead the first half of the sortie, perform a lead swap in the military operations area, then have 70-1586 lead the flight for the return to Laughlin AFB. The primary plan was for 70-1586 to lead the formation approach to runway 13C, clear off 68-8121 to land, and perform a low approach to the T-38 pattern, with the caveat that a difference in fuel levels could change who landed. On final approach after 70-1586 'cleared off' 68-8121, both aircraft attempted to land and neither performed a low approach. 68-8121, originally on the right side of the formation in the wingman position, ended up below the other aircraft on final approach in a position where neither aircraft could see the other. 68-8121 landed first at 10:14. One second later, at 10:14:02, the nose landing gear of 70-1586 impacted the other aircraft's left horizontal stabilizer. Both aircraft were rendered uncontrollable and subsequently destroyed.
Both pilots of 70-1586 experienced an interrupted ejection sequence due to the inversion of the aircraft, causing multiple life threatening injuries for the instructor and fatal injuries for student.
AIB Conclusion:
As the formation returned to base and conducted a formation approach, where one aircraft would land and the other would perform a low approach, (1) instructor 2 failed to communicate and instructor 1 failed to verify which aircraft would land, resulting in both aircraft simultaneously attempting to land on RWY 13C; and (2) instructor 2 failed to recognize a precarious situation developing after the “cleared off” call and failed to intervene and prevent MA2 from impacting MA1 on landing.
Two factors substantially contributed to the mishap: (1) instructor 1 and instructor 2 used conflicting techniques to perform the 1-up/1-down maneuver and (2) student’s callsign usage, affected by the “administrative lead” change and various techniques for referencing position number, was improper and confusing.
Accident investigation:
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| |
Investigating agency: | USAF AIB |
Report number: | |
Status: | Investigation completed |
Duration: | |
Download report: | Final report |
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Sources:
https://www.facebook.com/2334681490087733/posts/3056184271270781/ https://www.laughlin.af.mil/News/Article/2849699/laughlin-t-38c-talon-mishap-second-release-nov-19/ https://theaviationist.com/2021/11/20/t-38c-talons-crash-laughlin-afb/ https://www.airteamimages.com/pics/347/347302_big.jpg (photo)
See also:
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/269689 Media:
Revision history:
Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
19-Nov-2021 17:59 |
gerard57 |
Added |
19-Nov-2021 18:03 |
gerard57 |
Updated [Operator, Nature, Narrative] |
20-Nov-2021 00:58 |
RobertMB |
Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative, Plane category] |
20-Nov-2021 01:02 |
RobertMB |
Updated [Total fatalities] |
20-Nov-2021 09:51 |
Aerossurance |
Updated [Operator, Location, Source, Narrative] |
21-Nov-2021 10:30 |
Aerossurance |
Updated [Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
28-Jan-2022 08:59 |
TB |
Updated [Location, Embed code, Damage] |
27-May-2022 05:36 |
harro |
Updated [Time, Narrative, Accident report] |
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