U.S. Air Force Aerospace Mishap Reports: Accident Investigation Boards for UAV/UAS Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Incidents Involving the EQ-4B Global Hawk and MQ-1B Predator in 2011 and 2012

Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Technology, Aeronautics & Astronautics, History, Military, Aviation

• Author: Progressive Management
• ISBN: 9781476054063
• Publisher: Progressive Management
• Publication: August 8, 2012
• Imprint: Smashwords Edition
• Language: English

Eleven USAF accident investigation board reports, converted for accurate flowing-text ebook format reproduction, present findings into Class A aerospace mishaps involving UAV/UAS remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) in 2011 and 2012. The incidents included the EQ-4B Global Hawk and MQ-1B Predator.

Report One: On 20 August 2011, at approximately 1711 Zulu (Z) time, the mishap remotely piloted aircraft (MRPA), EQ-4B Global Hawk, tail number (T/N) 04-2017, crashed in Afghanistan, 9.4 hours after takeoff, while conducting a tasked communications relay mission.

Report Two: On 3 January 2011, at approximately 0605 zulu (Z) time, the mishap remotely piloted aircraft (MRPA), a M Q-1B Predator, tail number 99-3061, operated by the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron (RS) from Creech AFB, crashed west of Kandahar Air Base after completing 18 hours of a tasked surveillance mission. The crash site was remote desert terrain.

Report Three: On 14 January 2011, at 1617 Zulu (Z) time, the mishap remotely piloted aircraft (MRPA), a MQ-1B Predator, tail number (T/N) 08-3228, crashed in the Gulf of Aden while returning to an undisclosed base approximately nine and a half hours after takeoff.

Report Four: On 1 May 2011, at approximately 1650 zulu (Z) time, the mishap remotely piloted aircraft (MRPA), a MQ-1B Predator, tail number 01-3074, operated by the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron (RS) from Creech AFB, crashed 2 kilometers (KM) (direction unknown) outside a Forward Operating Base (FOB) after completing 18 hours of a tasked surveillance mission.

Report Five: On 7 May 2011, at 0355 Zulu (Z) time, the mishap remotely piloted aircraft (MRPA), an MQ-1B Predator, tail number (T/N) 06-3173, crashed in the Gulf of Aden while returning to an undisclosed base approximately one and a half hours after takeoff.

Report Six: On 17 May 2011, at approximately 0217L, an MQ-1B, Tail Number (T/N) 07-3249, deployed from the 49 Wing (WG) at Holloman Air Force Base (AFB), NM impacted the terrain during approach and landing in Djibouti.

Report Seven: On 5 June 2011, the mishap remotely piloted aircraft (MRPA), an MQ-1B Predator T/N 07-3204, was flying an operational mission supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Report Eight: On 28 June 2011, at approximately 0949 Zulu (Z) time, an MQ-1B Predator, tail number 02003080, operated by the 20th Reconnaissance Squadron (RS) at Whiteman Air Force Base (AFB), Missouri crashed and was destroyed on impact near Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

Report Nine: On 10 July 2011, at 0053 Local time (9 July 2011 at 1953 Zulu (Z)), the mishap aircraft (MA), a MQ-1B Predator, tail number (T/N) 06-3174, was lost and presumed crashed at a forward operating location.

Report Ten: On 20 Aug 11, at approximately 15:36 Zulu (Z) time, an MQ-1B Predator remotely piloted aircraft, T/N 06-3178, impacted the ground approximately 1.7 miles southwest of a forward operating base (FOB) in Afghanistan after approximately 17.2 hours of a surveillance mission.

Report Eleven: On 30 January, 2012, at approximately 1000 hours Zulu (Z) time, the mishap remotely piloted aircraft (MRPA), a MQ-1B Predator, tail number (T/N) 03-3122, operated by the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron (RS), 432d Wing (WG), Creech Air Force Base (AFB), made a forced landing just outside the perimeter fence of Kandahar Air Base (AB).