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Air Force unable to find cause of F-15 crash

HONOLULU — The Air Force said Tuesday that it’s been unable to determine the root cause of an F-15 crash off Oahu in February.

But it said both rudders on the Hawaii Air National Guard jet failed in mid-range position. Rudders are usually used to control direction of an aircraft’s flight.

The pilot ejected from the F-15D about 60 miles off shore after the aircraft failed to respond to his controls.

He suffered only minor injuries. The plane was destroyed when it hit the water.

The Air Force put the financial loss of the plane at $43.8 million.

The crash came about four months after an F-15C broke in two during a training flight over Missouri. An investigation concluded a defective aluminum beam in the frame cracked, causing that jet to disintegrate in mid-air.

The Hawaii National Guard acquired its F-15s, built between 1974 and 1978, about 20 years ago. The February accident was the first crash.

The jets are scheduled to be replaced in two years with the F-22 Raptor, a new stealth fighter.