USAF: Class A Flight Mishaps

Flying Safety, March, 2002

FY02 Flight Mishaps (Oct 01-Jan 02)

9 Class A Mishaps

3 Fatalities

6 Aircraft Destroyed

FY01 Flight Mishaps (Oct 00-Jan 01)

6 Class A Mishaps

2 Fatalities

7 Aircraft Destroyed

14 Oct (#): An HH-60 crashed into a river while flying a low-level training mission.

17 Oct: An F-16CG was severely damaged following an aborted takeoff.

25 Oct: An F-16C departed the runway after landing.

05 Nov (@): An F101 engine undergoing Test Cell maintenance sustained severe fire damage.

12 Dec (#): A B-1B crashed into the ocean shortly after takeoff.

21 Dec (#)(@): A C-141B sustained a collapsed wing during ground refueling operations.

30 Dec (#)(@): An RQ-4A Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle crashed while returning to base.

08 Jan: A C-17 was damaged during landing (Mishap was originally a Class B and upgraded to a Class A).

10 Jan (#): An F-16C crashed during a surface attack training mission.

10 Jan: An MH-53J crashed during a search and rescue mission.

17 Jan (##): Two A-10As were involved in a mid-air collision. Only one pilot ejected safely.

25 Jan (#)(@): An RQ-1 Predator crashed on landing.

31 Jan (#): A T-37 crashed during a training mission. The two crewmembers suffered fatal injuries.

* A Class A mishap is defined as one where there is loss of life, injury resulting in permanent total disability, destruction of an AF aircraft, and/or property damage/loss exceeding $1 million.

* These Class A mishap descriptions have been sanitized to protect privilege.

* Unless otherwise stated, all crewmembers successfully ejected/egressed from their aircraft.

* Reflects only USAF military fatalities.

* (#.) Denotes a destroyed aircraft.

* (@.) Denotes a Class A mishap that is of the "non-rate producer" variety. Per AFI 91-204 criteria only those mishaps categorized as "Flight Mishaps" are used in determining overall Flight Mishap Rates. Non-rate producers include the Class A "Flight-Related," "Flight-Unmanned Vehicle, and "Ground" mishaps that are shown here for information purposes.

* Flight and ground safety statistics are updated frequently and may be viewed at the following Web address: http://safety.kirtland.af.mil/AFSC/RDBMS/Flight/stats/statspage.html

* Current as of 31 Jan 02.