ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 269689
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| Date: | Friday 19 November 2021 |
| Time: | 10:14 |
| Type: |  Northrop T-38C Talon |
| Owner/operator: | United States Air Force (USAF) |
| Registration: | 70-1586 |
| MSN: | T.6276 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Laughlin AFB (DLF), TX -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Del Rio-Laughlin AFB, TX (DLF/KDLF) |
| Del Rio-Laughlin AFB, TX (DLF/KDLF) | |
| Investigating agency: | USAF AIB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
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:
 |
|
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/
See also: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=269686
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 19-Nov-2021 23:16 | Captain Adam | Added |
| 20-Nov-2021 09:47 | Aerossurance | Updated [Operator, Phase, Narrative] |
| 20-Nov-2021 09:51 | Aerossurance | Updated [Location, Source] |
| 21-Nov-2021 10:31 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source] |
| 28-Jan-2022 08:57 | TB | Updated [Location, Narrative] |
| 28-Jan-2022 09:02 | TB | Updated [Damage] |
| 27-May-2022 05:36 | harro | Updated [Time, Registration, Total occupants, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Accident report] |
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