An MQ-1B Predator crashed a year ago because its right wing controls failed, the Air Force said in an Accident Investigation Board report released Tuesday.
A failure of the right wing controls on an MQ-1B Predator caused the drone to crash on June 27, 2014, in Nevada, completely destroying the aircraft, the Air Force announced today.
The aircraft, assigned to the 432nd Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, took off June 27, 2014, for a training sortie controlled by the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron at the base. During the flight, the right wing control module failed, causing the right wing aileron to lower and lock. The lowering of the aileron caused the Predator to begin a roll into a steep angle of bank and then to lose its ability , causing it to be unable to maintain level flight.
The aircraft lost satellite communication and continued its roll until it crashed.
The Predator was destroyed at a loss of $4.6 million. There were no injuries or damage to private property.
