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| News > Air Force releases findings on Alaska C-17 fatal mishap |
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Air Force releases findings on Alaska C-17 fatal mishap
Posted 12/10/2010 Updated 12/10/2010
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by Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs
12/10/2010 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Headquarters Pacific Air Forces today released the results of its investigation into a fatal C-17 Globemaster III aircraft mishap July 28, 2010, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces commander, directed an investigation into the incident which resulted in the deaths of the four crewmembers aboard, the destruction of the $184 million aircraft, and damage to part of the Alaska Railroad.
The accident investigation board found clear and convincing evidence the cause of the mishap was pilot error. The investigation revealed the pilot placed the aircraft outside established flight parameters and capabilities. During the mishap sortie, the pilot aggressively flew the aircraft in a manner inconsistent with established flight procedures, resulting in a stall. The pilot failed to take required stall recovery actions. Furthermore, the board concluded the co-pilot and safety observer failed to recognize or address the developing dangerous situation. As a result, the C-17 stalled at an attitude and altitude from which recovery to controlled flight was impossible.
Brig. Gen. Carlton D. Everhart II, served as the Accident Investigation Board president. General Everhart is vice commander of the 618th Air and Space Operations Center at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. The general is a command pilot with more than 4,400 flight hours in a variety of aircraft, including the C-17.
The mishap occurred as the C-17 -- tail number 00-0173 and call sign Sitka 43 -- practiced for the Arctic Thunder Air Show scheduled for the weekend of July 31 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
For a copy of the Accident Investigation Board report, visit: http://www.pacaf.af.mil/library/aibreports/index.asp. Video footage of the mishap flight is also available at that Web site. The footage has been edited to cut off just prior to the aircraft's impact, out of consideration and respect for the families of the deceased.
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For follow-on questions regarding this release, contact the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Public Affairs at 907-854-0654 or bob.hall@elmendorf.af.mil. For all other questions, please contact U.S. Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs Office at (808) 448-3225 or 3220 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (HST), Monday through Friday. After duty hours or on weekends, contact the on-call representative through the PACAF command center at (808) 448-8500.
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