What happened
On 15 May 2023, an F-15D, tail number 84-0046, assigned to the 173d Fighter Wing, crashed at Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base in Klamath Falls, Oregon. The aircraft was returning from a local training mission involving F-35As in a nearby Military Operating Area when it experienced a hydraulic malfunction during its low-level return route. The pilot declared an in-flight emergency and proceeded to land on Runway 1<0xA0>14.
Upon landing, the aircraft suffered a loss of normal braking capability. In an attempt to stop the jet, the pilot deployed the aircraft's arresting hook to engage the runway's departure-end arrestment cable. However, due to a misunderneading of radio transmissions, the local tower controller lowered the cable, preventing a successful engagement. Unable to stop on the prepared surface, the aircraft exited the runway and struck an irrigation canal. The pilot sustained non-life-threatening injuries, but the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The Accident Investigation Board examined the sequence of events leading to the loss of the aircraft, including the mechanical failures and human factors involved. Investigators utilized a flight simulator to recreate the mishap parameters, such as airspeed, weight, and runway conditions. The board also reviewed maintenance records and radio communications between the pilot and air traffic control.
Findings
- The primary cause of the mishap was the pilot's decision not to utilize the Emergency Brake/Steer System as prescribed in the aircraft checklist.
- Ineffective communication between the pilot and the tower controller contributed significantly to the accident; the controller misinterpreted a radio transmission and lowered the arrestment cable during the emergency.
- Maintenance personnel failed to follow proper troubleshooting procedures and documentation requirements after identifying hydraulic fluid near the landing gear.
- The pilot's use of non-standard terminology on the radio prevented the controller from recognizing the immediate need for the arrestment cable.