Attrition Report
AN AIRCRAFT accident investigation report into the loss of a US Air Force T-38C Talon during a sortie from Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, last November 20 (see Attrition, January 2018, p91) was released on August 21. The report identifies the aircraft as 64-13213 ‘XL’ from the 47th Flying Training Wing (FTW), which was using callsign ‘Bully 29’ at the time of the accident.
The Talon crashed at 1546hrs, local time, approximately 12 miles (19km) northwest of Laughlin, completely destroying the aircraft and fatally injuring the mishap requalification pilot (MRP) occupying the rear seat. The mishap aircrew (MC) consisted of a mishap instructor pilot (MIP) in the front seat, who was supervising the MRP. The MIP successfully ejected and sustained minor injuries. The MRP did not eject and was fatally injured during ground impact.
The MIP, MRP and mishap aircraft (MA) were assigned to the 87th Flying Training Squadron, 47th FTW, at Laughlin. During the mishap sortie, the MA crashed while returning to base following a reported aircraft malfunction. The destroyed aircraft is valued at approximately $11m.
The Accident Investigation Board President determined, by preponderance of evidence, the ca…
