Air Force Materiel Command investigators have determined that “a failure in the rudder operating mechanism” of a T-38 aircraft during a training flight on May 21 caused the aircraft to crash near Edwards AFB, Calif., claiming one pilot’s life. Maj. Gen. Curtis Bedke, Air Force Research Lab boss who presided over the accident investigation board, said there is clear and convincing evidence that the rudder failure led to “an uncontrollable yaw and a resulting roll” that caused the aircraft to depart controlled flight, an “unrecoverable” condition in the T-38. Maintenance issues, more specifically “insufficient supervisory oversight and a lack of discipline of the [maintenance] training process” likely contributed to the rudder failure, the AIB found. Maj. Mark Paul Graziano, a student pilot, perished in the mishap, while his student navigator, Maj. Lee Vincent Jones, sustained serious injuries. (AFMC release) (AIB report)
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.