Double Fatal Crash of T-38C Air Force Fighter Trainer (HUD footage)

In today's exclusive: on February 19, 2021, a T-38C, T/N 68-8099, impacted the terrain short of Runway 28 while performing an instrument approach at Dannelly Field, Montgomery, AL. The instructor pilot and Japanese student pilot, assigned to the 14th Flying Training Wing, were fatally injured.

Due to a recent winter storm, the flight was the first sortie flown by the instructor and student in 9 days. The crew planned to fly to Dannelly Field, execute a circling instrument approach, and then continue to Tallahassee for a full stop landing. The student flew the downwind leg of the circling approach, and was 18 kt above final turn speed and 0.4 NM wide when he began the turn to final. Due to undershooting the final turn, the instructor directed the student to roll out on an approximately 40° intercept heading to final approach, and to slow down. The student retracted the throttles to idle and started a 30-35° left bank turn to align with the runway.

As the aircraft decelerated through 164 KCAS, the instructor took control and initiated recovery. At this time, the throttles had been at idle for 18s, decelerated to 155 KCAS, and was descending through 250’ MSL at 1,100 fpm. The aircraft impacted the ground seconds later.

The cause of the mishap was the instructor pilot's loss of situational awareness on final approach, and failure to take timely and necessary actions as a dangerous situation developed. It was further found that the student pilot substantially contributed to the mishap after becoming task saturated in the traffic pattern and placing and leaving the throttles in idle. As the circling approach progressed, the instructor failed to recognize the aircraft's deteriorating performance caused by the excessive length of time the throttles were in idle. This undetected and uncorrected action, coupled with the student's additional flight control inputs to align with the runway, resulted in insufficient airspeed and altitude and an increased angle of attack and sink rate, and placed the aircraft outside the parameters for safe flight.

The flight had been identified as high-risk, requiring the Squadron Commander to approve the sortie.

For unknown reasons, the mishap crew did not plan an alternate airfield, as required.

Cockpit recordings reveal the student had difficulty understanding and responding to ATC radio calls. The instructor assisted the student several times and directly intervened with ATC on one occasion to ensure safety of flight.

At 2239:00Z, the student initiated a 40° left bank level final turn at 210 KCAS. Due to the wider than normal runway displacement, the student undershot the final approach.

At :30Z, as the aircraft passed through 328° and 830’ MSL, the instructor directed, "You can roll out right here.”

At :39Z, the instructor stated, "Slowing down to green speed," directing the student to slow from 209 KCAS to the final approach speed of 172 KCAS. The student reduced both throttles to idle.

At :41Z, the instructor stated, "Leveling off," and the student began reducing the aircraft’s descent rate to 600 fpm.

At :44Z, the instructor stated, "Hold that good wire, fly those PAPIs" directing the student to fly the aircraft on a 2.5° to 3° glidepath.

At :47Z, the instructor stated, "See the runway, there you go," and the student started a 30-35° left bank to align with RWY 28 as the aircraft decelerated through 192 KCAS at 400 fpm sink rate.

At :55Z, the instructor calmly stated, "Just a little bit..." and truncated the end of his statement. At this point, the aircraft was on heading 278, at 450’ MSL, in a 36° left bank, throttles in idle, decelerating through 164 KCAS at 1,400 fpm sink rate. The setting sun was in the crew's FOV, likely affecting the student's ability to discern the information displayed on the HUD.

At :56Z, the instructor stated, "Ooof, start climbing.” This was the last point in time when a safe ejection was possible.

The instructor took control of the aircraft at 2239:56.5Z and attempted to recover the aircraft after recognizing the excessive sink rate and low airspeed.

At :57Z, the instructor advanced the throttles to maximum afterburner while continuing the attempted recovery.

At 2240:04Z, the aircraft struck 70’ tall power lines, a 50’ tall approach lighting system tower, and entered a grove of trees before impacting the ground approximately 1,800’ from the approach end of the runway. The aircraft impacted the ground at 138 KCAS, 5° nose-low pitch attitude, 8° downward flight path, 1,700 fpm sink rate, 50° right angle of bank, throttles in max afterburner, gear down and locked, and 60% flaps.

Neither pilot initiated ejection.

00:00 Last four minutes of HUD footage
04:07 Photos
04:37 Complete HUD footage
10:44 Taxi out
15:52 Takeoff
51:27 Mishap Analysis & Animation Facility Accident Sequence

Видео Double Fatal Crash of T-38C Air Force Fighter Trainer (HUD footage) канала What You Haven't Seen