USAF Class A Flight Mishaps

Flying Safety, May, 2003

FY03 Flight Mishaps (Oct 02-May 03)

18 Class a Mishaps

10 Fatalities

13 Aircraft Destroyed

FY02 Flight Mishaps (Oct 01-May 02)

21 Class a Mishaps

7 Fatalities

12 Aircraft Destroyed

18 Oct # A TG-10D glider crashed during a student sortie.

24 Oct An F-15 experienced an engine failure during takeoff.

25 Oct #* An RQ-1 Predator crashed during a training mission.

25 Oct ## Two F-16s collided in midair during a training mission. The pilot did not survive.

13 Nov # An F-16 crashed during a training mission. The pilot did not survive.

04 Dec ## Two-A-10s collided in midair during a training mission. One pilot did not survive.

18 Dec Two F-16s collided in midair during a training mission.

20 Dec #* Two T-37s collided in midair during a training sortie.

02 Jan # An RQ-1 Predator crashed during a training mission.

26 Jan A U-2 crashed during a training mission.

06 Feb A manned QF-4E departed the runway during takeoff roll.

11 Feb #* A QF-4 drone crashed during a landing approach.

13 Feb # An MH-53 crashed during a mission.

08 Mar # A T-38A crashed during a training mission.

17 Mar # Two F-15s collided in midair during a training mission.

19 Mar # A T-38 crashed during a runway abort. One pilot did not survive.

23 Mar # An HH-60 crashed during a mission. All crewmembers were killed.

31 Mar A B-1 received damage during weapons release.

16 Apr An F-15 experienced a single engine failure in-flight.

21 Apr A-C-17 suffered heavy damage to the MLG during a landing.

02 May A KC-135 experienced a birdstrike during landing roll.

* 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 mishps 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 27 May 03.