UAV crash blamed on distraction of battle - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times

UAV crash blamed on distraction of battle

Pilots flying an MQ-1B Predator in Afghanistan were so focused on a fierce firefight that they failed to notice the unmanned aircraft was headed toward a mountain, according to an investigation of the Oct. 3, 2009 crash.

Crews had just changed when the Predator flew into the 17,000-foot mountain, destroying the remotely piloted aircraft.

Both crews were from March Air Reserve Base, Calif.

The Predator, launched from Kandahar Air Base, was called to support a battle at Combat Outpost Keating involving U.S. troops and about 300 enemy fighters. Eight soldiers were killed.

Because of the urgency of the battle, the Predator pilot — and the pilot who replaced him — had “channelized attention,” according to the report by Air Combat Command’s Accident Investigation Board released March 29.

About 13 minutes after the pilot in the second Predator crew took over, he realized the elevation around the aircraft exceeded its altitude and tried to make a 180-degree right turn, according to the report. But after turning only 58 degrees, the Predator crashed into the mountain.

The Predator was assigned to the 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. It was operated by members of the 196th Reconnaissance Squadron at March Air Reserve Base.

The aircraft and its components were valued at about $3.8 million.

Related reading:

Kamdesh ambush played out like Wanat battle

Action taken in COP Keating attack