T-38 crash

My prayers also go out to the families. This strikes home to me since our DS winged out of Laughlin. I do know one thing, that community is very tight knit due to its location and I believe in my heart that everyone on that base is wrapping their arms around not only the family, but everyone on the base and in the squadron.
 
"A Toast . . . " for the pilot lost . . .

Prayers for both sets of families . . .

Hoping for a complete and speedy recovery for the pilot that was injured

Everything is routine right up until "remove chocks"
 
A question from a naive ground pounder: The imbedded article in the link above notes the "trainer’s troubled airframe mounted gearboxes." That was disturbing to me - shouldn't know issues be addressed?

I am not assuming this was the cause of the most recent crash. Just wondering...
 
USMCGrunt said:
A question from a naive ground pounder: The imbedded article in the link above notes the "trainer’s troubled airframe mounted gearboxes." That was disturbing to me - shouldn't know issues be addressed?

I am not assuming this was the cause of the most recent crash. Just wondering...
Click to expand...

Given the longevity of the T-38, I was wondering the same thing.
 
I am NOT a military pilot

From reading some of the information this was a dual hydraulic pump failure. Both right and left engine hydraulic pumps failed. The implication is this seems to be a known weak point. (Experts on the T38 would have to comment.). However redundancy can be an OK way to mitigate a weak point in a system. My guess is that on the risk matrix a dual hydraulic pump failure would be a 5X1 meaning if it happens it is mission ending —that is a “5”. But the probability of it happening is very low. That is the “1”. Again, T38 expert would have to weigh in, but my experience is there is no perfect aircraft. This is all very unfortunate. The system failed, the design for selection of dual ejection had issues and then the emergency procedures were not fully accomplished. Most tragic failures have a stack up of issues like this.
 
A toast...
And prayers for a speedy recovery.

USMCGrunt, every aircraft has weak points in its design. Some gear box failures have contributed to past T-38 crashes, but it is far too early to tell what happened here. As a Class A mishap, there is already a safety investigation going. The Accident Investigation Board will also take some time.
 
Falcon A said:
I am NOT a military pilot

From reading some of the information this was a dual hydraulic pump failure. Both right and left engine hydraulic pumps failed. The implication is this seems to be a known weak point. (Experts on the T38 would have to comment.). However redundancy can be an OK way to mitigate a weak point in a system. My guess is that on the risk matrix a dual hydraulic pump failure would be a 5X1 meaning if it happens it is mission ending —that is a “5”. But the probability of it happening is very low. That is the “1”. Again, T38 expert would have to weigh in, but my experience is there is no perfect aircraft. This is all very unfortunate. The system failed, the design for selection of dual ejection had issues and then the emergency procedures were not fully accomplished. Most tragic failures have a stack up of issues like this.
Click to expand...

I just want to point out that all of your information is from the November 2017 crash of a T-38 at Laughlin. The cause of yesterday’s crash has not even been discussed publicly, yet. The T-38 is an old jet and with that age comes some issues.

Stealth_81
 
Stealth_81 said:
I just want to point out that all of your information is from the November 2017 crash of a T-38 at Laughlin. The cause of yesterday’s crash has not even been discussed publicly, yet. The T-38 is an old jet and with that age comes some issues.

Stealth_81
Click to expand...

I should have been more clear. I was responding to USMCgrunt and AROTC-dad
 
No problem. I just wanted everyone reading to understand.

The identity of the pilots has just been released. Both Captains and both instructor pilots. Prayers for the families.

Stealth_81
 
Just found out that one of the pilots graduated with my DS from AFROTC and was at Laughlin at the same time, just a few classes behind him.
 
A toast... to Graz, just another great dude, among each and every one of them.
I am getting very disturbed with the frequency of these events.
 
Wild Blue Yonder said:
A toast... to Graz, just another great dude, among each and every one of them.
I am getting very disturbed with the frequency of these events.
Click to expand...
Our DS said this exact same thing the day he found out it was Graz. This would be the 3rd pilot he has known to die since he winged 4 yrs ago.
 
A Toast...

One of my sons also winged out of Laughlin (with PIMA's).

Our prayers are with his family and his AF family.
 
I flew with Graz several times when I was in the 87th. I flew my very last flight of UPT with him. While we were waiting in chocks for that flight, all he could talk about was how excited he was for the FAIP drop and how he couldn't wait to travel and see the world. He got Vipers and was going to be a Top Hat out here at Luke. He was loved and respected by every person who had the privilege of flying with him. Any day you saw you were scheduled with him in the back seat was a great day.

He was a great pilot and an even better man.

"Take care my friend, watch your six, and do one more roll for me."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top