Posted on 07/29/2010 3:23:36 PM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
WASHINGTON A US military cargo plane crashed during a training mission at the Elmendorf base in Alaska, killing all four crew members aboard, an Air Force spokesman said Thursday.
The plane, a C-17 cargo aircraft, reportedly crashed into a wooded area about two miles away from the runway from which it took off.
A statement from the Elmendorf base in Anchorage said four crewmembers assigned to the base's 3rd Wing were on board at the time of the crash at 6:14 pm local time (0215 GMT).
"Yesterday, we lost four members of our Arctic Warrior family and it's a loss felt across our entire joint installation," said Colonel John McMullen, 3rd Wing commander.
"Right now our immediate focus is on providing all possible support to the loved ones of our fallen aviators. We are also engaged in a deliberate investigative process," he said.
The identities of the four were withheld pending notification of next of kin. Three were from the Alaska air national guard and the fourth was on active duty.
The crash comes ahead of the base's popular Arctic Thunder air show and open house, set for this weekend. Planes have been preparing for the show, but it was not initially clear if the C-17 was part of the performance, or whether the event would go ahead after the accident.
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
They will be getting an additional squadron of F-22 Raptors.
I bet FR that zero will say something about this crash slower than he did about that abortionist killing.
AFp cannot write. Its 6:34 EST Thursday how can it be 6:15pm on Thursday in Alaska?
A C-17 with 4 engines.... What else besides structural failure - or jockying - could take it out of the envelope like that? Hmmm....
RIP
“What else besides structural failure - or jockying - could take it out “
Fuel contamination.
E.D.T.
The statement was today, the crash was yesterday.
Oh, G-d. Sweet Jesus comfort those who weep. Please give comfort to their heavy hearts. Please give them the Trust that You and Your Angels will get them through this. It may be all that they can take at this time. In Jesus’ Name we Pray.
Stall due to mis-setting the density altitude prior to takeoff
Failure to meet Vs - for any number of reasons
Hitting a sheer gust that exceeds Vb
Exceeding the Va
Partial hydraulic failure
Loss of flap or ailerons control to one wing
Bird strike (multiple)
Electrical failure or fire
Loss of critical flight control systems
Combat damage (not this time tho)
Oddly the USAF has a host of pros called
(wait for it)
AIR FORCE SAFETY AND ACCIDENT BOARD INVESTIGATIONS
That dig into the cause of these events to determine how ot avoid them in the future.
But rather than make some really bad taste, snarky comment -
I'll Pray for the families here in town - these were AKANG folks.
And wait for the AIB report.
It is rumored that a witness saw a door/panel visibly open before the crash. Don’t know if that would have anything to do with it, but who’s to say it wouldn’t?
Watch them blame it on “pilot error”.
Geez this is awful. I deployed on a C-17 and our entire unit raised holy h**l when they told us we’d be going back via World Airways instead of that wonderful bird.
Someone said this is the first ever C-17 crash. Hope it’s the only one. Prayers for the families.
Have they started trials with synthetic fuel yet? Do I remember right in thinking that the initial trials are to be on the C-17?
Obama failed to address the loss of our military heroes 26 hours already.
Prayers of comfort for the grieving, and salute to the Airmen. RIP.
O215 Greenwich Thursday is 8 hours earlier, or 615 PM ADT, Wednesday
BTW, I think you mean EDT. IOW, the crash was early evening Wednesday in Alaska.
Right now the AFP story says it was posted 12 hours ago, or about 0945 EDT
crash at 6:14 pm local time (0215 GMT). "Yesterday, we lost four members
Saw the smoke column from KGB Road yesterday evening. Didn’t know what it was at the time but figured it probably wasn’t anything good. Turned out to be worse than I thought.
Anything tragic happening in Alaska would only make Obama gloat. He won’t say a thing, about the only response we might get is Gibbs with a short message.
Obama hates Alaska almost as much as Arizona, only reason he hates Arizona more is that there is a meddling female governor trying to block his attempts to recruit 50 million illegal residents into democratic voters.
Alaska probably doesn’t have 500 illegal immigrants in the whole state, last time I saw a Mexican was 6 years ago.
I am waiting for the AIB results, with large A/C it make a year before a definitive answer is published...
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