Background
On 19 November 2021, two T-38C Talon aircraft, tail numbers 68-8121 and 70-1586, were assigned to the 47th Flying Training Wing at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. They were conducting a local formation sortie as part of the Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training program. The formation consisted of three crew members: a Mishap Instructor Pilot (MIP1) in the front cockpit of Mishap Aircraft 1 (MA1), another Mishap Instructor Pilot (MIP2) in the rear cockpit of Mishap Aircraft 2 (MA2), and a Mishap Student Pilot (MSP) in the front cockpit of MA2.
Sequence of Events
The mission plan called for MA1 to lead the first portion, then swap leads with MA2 for the return to base. MA2 was to lead a formation approach to Runway 13 Center, clear off MA1 to land, and then perform a low approach. However, due to fuel differences, the plan had a caveat that the landing aircraft could change. On final approach, after MA2 called "cleared off," both aircraft attempted to land, and neither executed a low approach. MA1, originally on the right side, ended up below MA2 in a position where neither crew could see the other. MA1 landed at 10:14:01 local time; one second later, MA2's nose landing gear struck MA1's left horizontal stabilizer. Both aircraft became uncontrollable and were destroyed.
Injuries and Egress
MIP1 egressed on the ground after the mishap with minor injuries. MIP2 and the MSP experienced an interrupted ejection sequence due to MA2 inverting, resulting in multiple life-threatening injuries for MIP2 and fatal injuries for the MSP.
Findings
The accident investigation board found two causes: (1) MIP2 failed to communicate and MIP1 failed to verify which aircraft would land, leading both to attempt landing simultaneously; and (2) MIP2 failed to recognize the developing precarious situation after the "cleared off" call and did not intervene to prevent the collision. Two factors substantially contributed: (1) conflicting techniques used by the two instructors for the one-up/one-down maneuver; and (2) improper and confusing callsign usage by the MSP, influenced by the administrative lead change and different position numbering techniques.