What happened
During an evening training mission originating from March AFB, California, an aircraft was performing low-altitude maneuvers designed to simulate an aerial attack. While cruising at a low altitude, the plane made contact with a sand dune. The impact caused the aircraft to crash into a prairie area situated a few miles west of Las Animos, which resulted in a massive explosion.
All eight crew members on board perished in the accident. The flight crew included the pilot, co-pilot, and six other personnel serving in various capacities within the unit.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating at a low altitude to replicate specific combat scenarios.
- The primary sequence of events involved the impact with terrain (a sand dune) during the flight.