Air Force releases report on Tyndall F-15 accident

  • Published
  • By Capt. John Severns
  • AETC Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  An investigation of the November 13, 2008, F-15C Eagle mishap at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., concluded that a sequence of flight analysis and assessment errors by the pilot led to the aircraft overrunning the runway and all paved surfaces. 

The accident resulted in $1.25 million damage to the airplane and $37,000 damage to the airfield and on-base environmental clean-up costs. There were no injuries as a result of the mishap. 

After taking off for an approved training mission, the mishap aircraft's landing gear failed to retract due to a malfunction in the landing gear system's wiring. While responding to this malfunction, the mishap pilot opted to not run a checklist step that would have allowed for fuel to be burned from an external tank. 

After completing several go-arounds to burn off excess fuel, the pilot realized fuel in the external fuel tank remained at the same weight. He mistakenly analyzed the condition as a new malfunction. In order to compensate for the excess fuel, he was forced to fly an approach with a lower angle of attack and a higher airspeed than normal. During the landing, the F-15's anti-skid brake system failed, and the mishap pilot did not notice it until it was too late to attempt to use any of the aircraft's alternate or emergency braking systems. As a last resort, the pilot lowered the aircraft's hook to engage the arrestor chain at the end of the runway. 

The AIB Board President concluded three additional factors contributed to the mishap. First, the failure of two wires in separate wire bundles attached to the right main landing gear significantly contributed to the mishap by preventing the landing gear from retracting and causing a failure of the anti-skid braking system. Second, a lack of positive interaction or intervention by the supervisor of flying contributed by not providing appropriate assistance to the mishap pilot in determining a course of action. Third, the presence of an earthen berm and water drainage ditch directly adjacent to the end of the paved surface contributed to the mishap by increasing the amount of damage sustained by the mishap aircraft. 

For additional questions, contact AETC/PA at 210-652-4400.