USAF Class A Flight Mishaps

Flying Safety, April, 2002

USAF Class A Flight Mishaps

FY02 Flight Mishaps (Oct 01-Feb 02)

14 Class A Mishaps

5 Fatalities

9 Aircraft Destroyed

FY01 Flight Mishaps (Oct 00-Feb 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.
02 Nov (#)   An MH-53 crashed while
             performing a mission.
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
             duririg 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.
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.
24 Jan       An MH-53 crashed while performing a mission.
25 Jan (#*)  An RQ-1 Predator crashed on landing.
31 Jan (#)   A T-37 crashed during a training mission.
             The two crewmernbers suffered fatal injuries.
02 Feb (#)   A C-21 crashed while landing. The
             two crewmembers suffered fatal injuries.
12 Feb       An F-15 was severely damaged due to engine fire.
12 Feb (#)   An MC-130P crashed during a mission.

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 25 Feb 02.