USAF: Class a Flight Mishaps

Flying Safety, August, 2003

FY03 Flight Mishaps (Oct 02-Jul 03)

24 Class A Mishaps 10 Fatalities 18 Aircraft Destroyed

FY02 Flight Mishaps (Oct 01-Jul 02)

25 Class A Mishaps 11 Fatalities 14 Aircraft Destroyed

18 Oct (A)    A TG-10D glider crashed during a student sortie.
24 Oct        An F-15 experienced an engine failure during takeoff.
25 Oct (A*)   An RQ-1 Predator crashed during a training mission.
25 Oct (AA)   Two F-16s collided in midair during a training mission.
              One pilot did not survive.
13 Nov (A)    An F-16 crashed during a training mission. The pilot did
              not survive.
04 Dec (AA)   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 (A)    Two T-37s collided in midair during a training sortie.
02 Jan (A*)   An RQ-1 Predator crashed during a training mission.
26 Jan (A)    A U-2 crashed during a training mission,
06 Feb        A manned QF-4E departed the runway during takeoff roll.
11 Feb (A*)   A QF-4 drone crashed during a landing approach.
13 Feb (A)    An MH-53 crashed during a mission.
08 Mar (A)    A T-38A crashed during a training mission.
17 Mar (A)    Two F-15s collided in midair during a training mission.
19 Mar (A)    A T-38 crashed during a runway abort. One pilot did
              not survive.
23 Mar (A)    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 inflight.
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.
22 May        An MH-53 suffered severe damage to the main rotor system.
29 May (A)    An F-16 crashed during takeoff.
04 Jun (A)    An F-15E departed controlled flight and crashed.
10 Jun (A)    An F-16 crashed during a training sortie.
12 Jun (A)    An F-16 crashed during a training sortie.
13 Jun (A)    An F-16 crashed during a training sortie.

* 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.

* (A) 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 08 Jul 03.