What happened
On 7 November 2022, a T-38C, tail number 65-0466, crashed approximately 22 miles south of Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. The aircraft was operating as part of a two-ship surface attack instructor continuation training sortie assigned to the 49th Fighter Training Squadron, 14th Operations Group, under the 14th Flying Training Wing.
Shortly after takeoff, while the pilot was maneuvering into a line abreast formation in the number two position, the aircraft suffered a bird strike. The impact shattered the middle section of the front cockpit canopy. Fragments from the destroyed canopy were subsequently ingested into both engines. This ingestion caused the left engine to fail immediately and cease rotation, while the right engine experienced a compressor stall four seconds later. Unable to maintain level flight due to the loss of thrust, the pilot ejected from the aircraft. The pilot sustained non-life threatening injuries and was recovered by local emergency services, though the aircraft was completely destroyed.
The investigation
The investigation established that the flight was a routine training mission with no students onboard. Both crew members were qualified instructor pilots. The mission planning had correctly identified bird strikes as a potential risk, noting moderate local bird activity. Investigators confirmed that the pilot's actions and the mission's supervision were consistent with the base's Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) plan. Furthermore, the analysis found no relevant human factors or maintenance issues contributing to the event.
Findings
- The primary cause of the mishap was an unavoidable bird strike that shattered the cockpit canopy.
- Ingestion of canopy debris into both engines resulted in catastrophic engine failure and a significant loss of thrust.