Pilot Safety Award of Distinction - Monthly Award Winners

Combat Edge, April, 2003

While preparing for the high-TACAN approach to Beale AFB, and approximately 45 minutes into a low altitude U-2 training sortie, Capt Skeeters encountered a complete hydraulic failure emergency. Capt Skeeters immediately attempted to trim the aircraft to a more favorable trim setting for the recovery, but without success. Fortunately, the landing gear was already down and locked, but without hydraulics he would not have use of speed brakes or flaps for his return to the field. The no-flap landing in the U-2 is extremely challenging, with a threshold crossing speed just 2 knots above the stall. With its long wings, the U-2 in a no flap, low drag configuration, acts much like a glider. Too fast and the U-2 will float off the end of the runway; too slow results in a low altitude stall. Landing distance for his configuration was calculated at 10,000 feet on a 12,000-foot runway. Also, weather conditions had been deteriorating. Communicating with his mobile officer, emergency checklists and the approach and landing were covered. The TACAN approach would be flown so that he could get below the weather early and see the field. To lose altitude in his no-flap configuration, he had to fly two 360-degree turns to lose enough altitude to make the approach work. At the final approach fix Capt Skeeters attempted to add the last bit of drag that was available to him, the emergency spoiler system. However, the emergency spoiler system did not work, making the approach more difficult. At 10 DME and 3,000 feet, Capt Skeeters entered the weather. He gently coaxed the Dragonlady toward the MDA. At 1,000 MSL, Capt Skeeters broke out of the weather and located the field visually. He flew a flawless final approach and crossed the threshold on speed at the planned altitude of 5 feet. After floating at 1 to 2 feet for approximately 4,000 feet, Capt Skeeters, sensing the onset of the stall, cut the throttle to off to reduce his landing distance. The aircraft came to a stop with 4,000 feet remaining. Capt Skeeters egressed the aircraft une ventfully. His quick, smart actions and superior pilot abilities were directly responsible for the safe recovery of a national asset.

Capt William T. Skeeters

99th Recon. Squadron

9th Recon. Wing

Beale AFB, Calif.