CV-22 crash report blames pilot error

The 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field on Aug. 30 released the accident report for the June 13 CV-22 Osprey crash that injured five crew members.

Air Force Col. Hans Ruedi Kaspar, chairman of the accident investigation board, included in the report his opinion about what caused the mishap.

“I find by clear and convincing evidence that the cause of the mishap was the Mishap Pilot’s (MP) and the Mishap Co-Pilot’s (MCP) failure to keep the mishap aircraft clear of the mishap lead aircraft’s wake,” Kaspar wrote.

The CV-22 that crashed was flying behind the lead CV-22 when it crossed into the rotor wake of the lead aircraft, causing the downed aircraft to roll left and hit the ground before the pilots could regain control.

“This error was due to a misperception by both the (mishap pilot) and the (mishap co-pilot) of the (mishap aircraft’s) location in relation to the (mishap lead aircraft’s) wake,” Kaspar continued.

The 39-page Aircraft Accident Investigation Board Report spells out the details of the accident including the flight path, crew information and weather conditions.

For the complete story, see the Sept. 6 edition of the Navarre Press, or subscribe online.