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- Feb 16, 2016
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$450 Million B-1B Lancer Crash Attributed to Crew Failures and 'Degradation of Airman Skills'
$450 Million B-1B Lancer Crash Attributed to Crew Failures and 'Degradation of Airman Skills'
A B-1B Lancer valued at more than $450 million that crashed in South Dakota at the start of this year missed the runway by 100 feet, a mistake accident investigators attributed to the aircrew's shortcomings as well as the poor training culture within units at Ellsworth Air Force Base.
A B-1B Lancer valued at more than $450 million that crashed in South Dakota at the start of this year missed the runway by 100 feet, a mistake accident investigators attributed to the aircrew's shortcomings as well as the poor training culture within units at Ellsworth Air Force Base.
The scathing crash investigation report shared with Military.com pointed to "failure to perform standard crew resource management," along with adverse weather conditions, ineffective flying operations supervision, lack of awareness, and "an unhealthy organizational culture that permitted degradation of airmanship skills" as contributing factors in the Jan. 4 crash.
That incident led Ellsworth to temporarily close down its runway and relocate roughly 250 crew members and Lancers to Dyess Air Force Base near Abilene, Texas.
The B-1B Lancer, which was on a training mission, crashed roughly 100 feet shy of the runway, skidded more than 5,000 feet down the tarmac, and was then engulfed in flames from the crash. The four crew members all ejected, but two of them suffered injuries as a result. Both were medically treated and later released, according to Air Force Global Strike Command, which commissioned the crash investigation report. The Lancer was destroyed, and the damage to the aircraft and the runway was estimated to be more than $456 million.
The report also points out that one crew member who was injured during the ejection was not wearing all the proper flight equipment. And the other injured crew member's weight was reportedly above both the ejection seat's recommended limit of 211 pounds and the Air Force's recommendation of 245 pounds. They weighed in at nearly 260 pounds during medical treatment, which "likely contributed to the severity of the injuries noted from the mishap."
Commenntary:
D.E.I. Half-billion dollars down the crapper so some little girl or fairy didn't get their widdle feelings hurt.
Wow!, 260 lb. Airmen... Whatever happened to those Air Force height and weight standards. to keep our military trim and fit.
This is no longer the Air Force or Military that America used to have.
Obama made sure of that when he purged our Officer Corps across the board and three and a half years of Joe Biden just drove that stake deep into the heart of our Military. Great examples are Vindman, Milley and Austin.
When I see those Gens on Biden’s staff, I wonder how they are still wearing uniforms when they are so obese?
Like the rest of our military, USAF has a problem with retention of pilots and enlistees. Training is lengthy and expensive, with the most capable pilots often departing as soon as possible to the lush, green pastures of the airline industry. The same holds true for mechanics and high tech enlisted personnel. That tends to leave less capable commanders, pilots and logistics in the Air Force.
