E-9 ACCIDENT REPORT RELEASED

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- Pilot error caused the May 1 crash of an E-9 Widget at the Tallahassee Regional Airport in Tallahassee, Fla., according to an Air Combat Command accident investigation board report released today.

The aircraft's landing gear was not lowered for a touch-and-go maneuver during the routine training mission. There were no injuries or damage to civilian property.

According to the report, the board president found sufficient evidence to conclude checklist error and cognitive task oversaturation substantially contributed to the mishap. These factors, when combined, impaired the instructor pilot's ability to maintain situational awareness while providing flight instruction to the upgrade pilot.

The instructor pilot and aircraft were assigned to the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, subordinate unit of the 53d Weapons Evaluation Group at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The 53d WEG reports to the 53d Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla. The upgrade pilot is a civilian contractor pilot assigned to the E-9 Initial Qualification Program.

For more information, contact the ACC Public Affairs office at (757) 764-5007 or e-mail accpa.operations@langley.af.mil.