2015 Los Llanos Air Base crash
This article needs to be updated.(February 2024) |
General Dynamics F-16D Fighting Falcon | |
Operator | Hellenic Air Force |
---|---|
Registration | 084 |
Occupants | 2 |
Crew | 2 |
Fatalities | 2 |
Survivors | 0 |
Ground casualties | |
Ground fatalities | 9 |
Ground injuries | 33 (34 initially) |
On 26 January 2015, an
Background
Los Llanos Air Base is the venue of
Accident
On 26 January 2015, one of the Greek F-16s crashed into other aircraft at Shelter D-4 of the air base shortly after takeoff, causing an explosion which killed 9 people. Approximately one and a half seconds before impact, the back seat pilot ejected from the aircraft followed shortly by the front seat pilot half a second later. Both pilots suffered fatal injuries.[1][4]
Those killed included the two Greek crew members of the F-16 and eight French personnel on the ground.[5][6]34 individuals were injured, 17 of them severely. The following day, a French airman who was severely burned in the accident died, bringing the death toll to eleven.[1][7]
In addition to the loss of personnel, the crash resulted in the write-off of two
Investigation
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Initial findings were that a technical fault developed on board the F-16 during take-off, and the two crew members had tried to eject.[6] Aviation analyst Sean Maffett told the BBC News Channel that it was "difficult to imagine how the accident had occurred, because the runway where the aircraft was taking off was about 1,000 ft (305m) away from where the crash apparently took place."[6]
Six months later, in July, investigators determined that a 'loose checklist' may have caused the aircraft to crash.
Though there are safety guards mounted on either side of the yaw trim switch to prevent unintentionally moving it, investigators believe one of three loose flight checklists in the cockpit must have jammed the knob all the way to the right. The checklists were to be placed in the cockpit's stowage compartment, but the lead pilot stored his flight bag in the compartment instead, the report said.[9]
Physical tests performed by the safety investigation board members determined that while it's difficult to inadvertently turn the knob, an object such as a checklist - they are usually laminated - pushed between the yaw knob and the safety guard "can cause the same roll and yaw trim movements as recorded" in the aircraft.[9]
The Hellenic Air Force jet crashed about 7.8 seconds after takeoff, as the askew trim tab forced the plane to bank hard to the right and pulled its nose down. The lead pilot's "left control stick inputs were insufficient to cease the right roll," the report said.[9]
The lead pilot "had to react in the unforgiving altitude of no more than 6 feet, the fact that the landing gear was left in the down position can be considered as a clear indication of the surprising nature of the problem."[9]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Spanish Safety Investigation Board (SIB) Final Report" (PDF). Safety Investigation Board (SIB). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 September 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ "Fighter jet crash kills 10 in Spain". BBC News. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
- ^ "341 Squadron TLP 2015-1". airforce.gr. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
- ^ "Spanish Safety Investigation Board (SIB) Final Report Appendix B" (PDF). Safety Investigation Board (SIB). Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ Lopez, Al Goodman,Elwyn (2015-01-26). "Greek F-16 crashes in Spain during NATO exercise, killing 11". CNN. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c "Greek fighter jet crash 'due to takeoff fault'". BBC News. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
- ^ Gonzalez, Miguel; Precedo, José (27 January 2015). "Crashed F-16 fighter fell in "worst possible place," says military". El País. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
- ^ "France reveals extent of Albacete disaster losses". Janes Defence. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Loose checklist may have caused deadly Greek F-16 crash in Spain". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2024-04-06.