News Search

MQ-1B ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION RELEASED

  • Published
  • By Public Affairs
  • Air Combat Command

An MQ-1B crashed Jan. 7, 2016 in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility after an anomaly within the flight computer commanded the aircraft to descend into the ground, according to an Air Combat Command Abbreviated Accident Investigation Board report released today.

The MQ-1B assigned to the 432nd Wing at Creech AFB, Nev., and operated by a mission control element from the 20th Attack Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo., was performing a combat support mission at the time of incident.  During the mission, the remotely piloted aircraft received several warning messages indicating significant malfunctions including a breakdown of the flight computer memory.  This degraded memory led to a reset of the aircraft, which was followed by a loss of command datalink.  Eventually, the MQ-1B began to execute a corrupted emergency mission including uncommanded pitch angle changes resulting in a gradual descent into the ground.

The estimated cost of the aircraft and its munitions was $5.1 million. There were no injuries on the ground or damage to other government or private property.

 

For more information, contact Air Combat Command Public Affairs at (757) 764-5007 or via e-mail at accpa.operations@us.af.mil.