What happened
On 0/03 September 2023, an MQ-9A, tail number 16-4339, crashed in undisclosed waters within the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Area of Responsibility. The aircraft, operated by the 162d Attack Squadron based at Springfield-Beckley Air National Guard Base, Ohio, was returning to its Launch and Recovery Element (LRE) in the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) AOR when it experienced a starter-generator failure.
This electrical system malfunction necessitated an immediate "land as soon as possible" protocol. While the crew correctly identified the malfunction, the subsequent execution of emergency checklists was slow and contained several errors. During this period, communications between the Mission Control Element (MCE) and the LRE were complicated by the mishap operations supervisor, which introduced uncertainty regarding whether the aircraft could be recovered at the LRE base.
Following a decision to divert from the LRE, the pilot initially targeted an ad hoc crash-landing site near a Forward Operating Base. However, upon realizing that remaining battery power was insufficient to maintain satellite communications for a controlled landing, the mission was updated to a ditching procedure near an undisclosed vessel. The aircraft eventually ran out of fuel and impacted the water several hours later. There were no fatalities or injuries resulting from the incident, though the aircraft was destroyed, representing a loss of over $26 million.
The investigation
The Accident Investigation Board (AIB) examined the sequence of events, including the execution of emergency checklists, the communications between the MCE and LRE, and the decision-making process regarding the aircraft's flight path. The board reviewed aircraft data files, mission audio, and witness testimony to evaluate the impact of the electrical system failure and the subsequent supervisory influence on the crew's actions.