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Names of pilots killed in Talon crash released

Late Friday afternoon, the Air Force identified the two pilots who died Thursday when their T-38C Talon crashed while practicing take offs and landing at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas.

Killed were instructor pilot Maj. Brad Funk and student pilot 2nd Lt. Alec Littler. Both were assigned to Sheppard’s 80th Flying Training Wing and the 90th Flying Training Squadron.

While details of the accident remain under investigation, Air Force reports said the crash occurred around 7:45 a.m. while the aircrew practiced “touch-and-go” landings at Sheppard. Touch-and-go landings call for the plane to land, then with out slowing down immediately take off. It’s a common training procedure for all pilots.

The loss of the T-38C and pilots marked the second fatal T-38C crash in nine days. As a result, Air Education and Training Command grounded its fleet of about 500 T-38C Talon training jets.

Also, the 19th Air Force, which oversees flight training within the command, declared Monday as a safety day and banned any training sorties from flying that day.

Until the two recent accidents, the Talon had gone five years without a fatal crash. On April 23, a T-38C crashed on takeoff from Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., killing Maj. Blair Faulkner, 43rd Flying Training Squadron instructor pilot, and 2nd Lt. Matthew Emmons, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training class 08-14.

“We have no evidence that these incidents are related,” Looney said. “But until we have a more complete understanding of the causes of both accidents, it’s prudent to stand down the T-38s.” The causes of both crashes are under investigation.

The Air Force has used the T-38 to train fighter pilots since 1961, and upgraded the jet several times. Most recently, a “glass cockpit” was installed, replacing most of the jet’s analog dials and gauges with computer displays. The aircraft is also getting a redesigned ejection seat that is better fit for smaller pilots, such as women who weren’t flying Talons when the jets were produced in the 1960s.

Since the Oct. 1 start of fiscal 2008, AETC has had five major aircraft accidents that resulted in a death or more than $1 million in damage, according to Air Force Safety Center figures — the most of any Air Force major command this year.

The other three were:

* Nov. 28 — Two T-6A Texans from Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., collided over Mississippi. All four pilots safely ejected. An accident report faulted both crews.

* March 14 — An F-16 pilot from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., died when his jet crashed on a training flight. The investigation continues.

* April 2 — An F-16 from Luke landed gear up at Gila Bend Auxiliary Air Field, Ariz. The pilot survived and the accident remains under investigation.

In the wake of the second fatal crash in nine days, Air Education and Training Command has grounded its fleet of about 500 T-38C Talon training jets.

AETC also has declared Monday a safety day: The command will fly no training sorties, regardless of the aircraft model.

The decision by AETC commander Gen. William Looney to ground the T-38Cs came hours after two pilots died when their Talon crashed Thursday at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, home of the 80th Flying Training Wing.

The Talon had gone five years without a fatal crash until April 23, when a T-38C crashed on takeoff from Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., killing Maj. Blair Faulkner, 43rd Flying Training Squadron instructor pilot, and 2nd Lt. Matthew Emmons, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training class 08-14.

“We have no evidence that these incidents are related,” Looney said. “But until we have a more complete understanding of the causes of both accidents, it’s prudent to stand down the T-38s.” The causes of both crashes are under investigation.

Maj. Gen. Irving Halter, who oversees AETC’s flight training as commander of the 19th Air Force, declared the safety day.

The Air Force has used the T-38 to train fighter pilots since 1961, and upgraded the jet several times.

Since the Oct. 1 start of fiscal 2008, AETC has had five major aircraft accidents that resulted in a death or more than $1 million in damage, according to Air Force Safety Center figures — the most of any Air Force major command this year.

The other three were:

* Nov. 28 — Two T-6A Texans from Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., collided over Mississippi. All four pilots safely ejected. An accident report faulted both crews.

* March 14 — An F-16 pilot from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., died when his jet crashed on a training flight. The investigation continues.

* April 2 — An F-16 from Luke landed gear up at Gila Bend Auxiliary Air Field, Ariz. The pilot survived and the accident remains under investigation.

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T-38C trainers grounded after fatal crashes