Dual engine failure during a functional check flight caused the crash of an A-10C aircraft assigned to Moody AFB, Ga., on Sept. 26, 2011, announced Air Combat Command officials Wednesday. ACC’s accident investigators determined that the aircraft experienced a stall at 34,000 feet that quickly resulted in both engines flaming out. The pilot tried unsuccessfully to recover the aircraft. He then located a controlled bailout area and safely ejected, sustaining no serious injuries. However, the A-10 was lost. Valued at approximately $14.7 million, it went down on private property about 20 miles northwest of Moody. The costs of the environmental clean-up are estimated at $150,000. According to the investigators, the A-10’s stall warning system had malfunctioned at 15,000 feet. Without evidence of additional malfunctions, the pilot elected to continue the flight. An FCF is flown to ensure airworthiness after major scheduled aircraft maintenance. (Accident investigation board report; caution, large-sized file.)
Anduril and General Atomics will develop their Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force, beating out Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the service announced on April 24. But any of the non-selected companies can compete to actually manufacture the eventual design, the Air Force said.