What happened
On 13 May 2024, at approximately 1353L, a T-6A Texan II, tail number 08-3915, was taxiing to the parking ramp at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, following a training sortie. The aircraft, operated by the 89th Flying Training Squadron under the 80th Flying Training Wing, was being piloted by an international student pilot in the front cockpit, with a mishap instructor pilot (MIP) seated in the rear cockpit.
After completing formation maneuvers in a local Military Operations Area and landing on runway 33R, the crew began the After Landing Checklist. During this process, the MIP performed several tasks, including attempting to install seat safety pins. As the aircraft taxied toward the ramp, the MIP began disconnecting from the rear cockpit ejection seat system, including the parachute connections and harness components. While the pilot was leaning down to disconnect a leg restraint garter, the ejection handle was inadvertently actuated.
The resulting ejection occurred while the aircraft was still on the ground. The instructor pilot was ejected from the aircraft, struck an aircraft sunshade, and landed on the ground. The MIP sustained fatal injuries and passed away the following morning at a local hospital. The student pilot remained in the cockpit without injury, though the T-6A sustained significant damage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of events during the After Landing Checklist and the physical state of the ejection seat system. Investigators analyzed the installation of the rear cockpit seat safety pin and the condition of the harness components. Evidence from the aircraft, including an elliptical mark on the Standby Airspeed Indicator (ASI) bezel, suggested that a partially installed safety pin was dislodged during the ejection sequence. The board also reviewed the pilot's disconnection from the seat, specifically looking at how the harness chest strap V-ring interacted with the ejection control handle.