ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 201530
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| Date: | 20-NOV-2017 |
| Time: | 15:46 |
| Type: |  Northrop T-38C Talon |
| Owner/operator: | United States Air Force (USAF) |
| Registration: | 64-13213 |
| MSN: | N.5642 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Val Verde County, NNW of Del Rio, TX -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Unknown |
| 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 |
On 20 November 2017, at 15:46:28 hours, local time, a T-38C, tail number 64-3213, crashed approximately 12 miles northwest of Laughlin Air Force Base (AFB), Texas (TX), completely destroying the aircraft and fatally injuring the mishap requalification pilot (MRP) who was occupying the rear seat. The mishap aircrew (MC) consisted of a mishap instructor pilot (MIP) occupying the front seat who was supervising the MRP who was conducting a requalification mission. The MIP successfully ejected and sustained minor injuries. The MRP did not eject and was fatally injured during ground impact. The MIP, MRP and mishap aircraft (MA) were assigned
to the 87th Flying Training Squadron, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin AFB, TX. During the mishap sortie (MS), the mishap aircraft (MA) crashed while returning to base following a reported aircraft malfunction. The destroyed aircraft is valued at approximately $11 million. The MRP was a T-38 instructor pilot undergoing requalification training after return from a nonflying overseas deployment. During a local training sortie, the MA experienced an airframe mounted gearbox failure on the left engine, resulting in the loss of the left alternating current generator and left hydraulic pump. The MC accomplished required checklists and coordinated for immediate landing at Laughlin AFB. Over four minutes later, while maneuvering to final approach, the MC detected additional failed electrical systems accompanied by failure of the right engine hydraulic pump and the right airframe mounted gearbox. With failures of both gearboxes and their associated hydraulic pumps, the MA suffered total hydraulic failure and was
uncontrollable by the MC, leaving ejection as the only suitable alternative. The MC transmitted their intent to eject, but delayed ejection over concern for a populated area below.
The Accident Investigation Board President determined, by preponderance of evidence, the cause of the mishap to be dual airframe mounted gearbox failure. A substantial contributing factor to these gearbox failures was a lack of maintenance guidance addressing similar repeated failures of the MA. The Board President also found, by a preponderance of evidence, the cause of fatal injuries suffered by the MRP was the MC’s failure to complete the before takeoff checklist item that called for the proper ejection seat system settings. Finally, the Board President found, by a preponderance of the evidence, that factors that substantially contributed to the mishap were Task Misprioritization, Checklist Interference, Instrumentation and Sensory Feedback Systems, and the Delayed Decision to eject.
Sources:
USAF
https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/64-13213.html
Accident investigation:
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Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 21-Nov-2017 01:56 | Geno | Added |
| 21-Nov-2017 03:39 | Geno | Updated [Total fatalities, Damage, Narrative] |
| 22-Nov-2017 07:49 | Aerossurance | Updated [Operator, Narrative] |
| 24-Aug-2018 07:35 | harro | Updated [Time, Registration, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Accident report, ] |
| 08-Dec-2022 06:57 | nhofmann54 | Updated [Registration, Cn, Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source] |
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