2010 Alaska C-17 crash
Encyclopedia
The 2010 Alaska C-17 crash occurred on July 28, 2010, when a United States Air Force
military transport plane crashed on Elmendorf Air Force Base
in Alaska
with the loss of all four crew aboard. The aircraft involved was a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III (tail number 00-0173) and the crash is believed to be the first fatal accident involving a C-17. The crew were preparing for Elmendorf's Arctic Thunder Air Show
, which went ahead three days later as a tribute.
. It belonged to the 3rd Wing
(3 WG) and operated jointly with the 176th Wing
(176 WG) at Elmendorf AFB, located near downtown Anchorage
. The aircraft had Air Force serial number 00-0173 and was named Spirit of the Aleutians.
The US Air Force has 199 C-17s in service with the active Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard
, with the type being based at Elmendorf since June 2007. At the time of the crash the base had eight of the aircraft, operated jointly by an active duty Air Force organization, the 3rd Wing's 517th Airlift Squadron
, and an Alaska Air National Guard
unit, the 176th Wing
's 249th Airlift Squadron
. The mishap was the first fatal crash of a C-17.
, to be held at the Elmendorf base over the weekend of July 31 / August 1. The C-17 is commonly featured in US air shows, highlighting its short take-off and landing capability. The plane had previously flown earlier that day with a different crew.
) the C-17 took off from Runway 06 at Elmendorf Air Force Base to practice maneuvers for the upcoming Arctic Thunder Air Show. After the initial climb-out and left turn, the pilot executed an aggressive right turn. As the aircraft banked, the stall warning system activated to alert the crew of an impending stall. Instead of implementing stall recovery procedures, the pilot continued the turn as planned, and the aircraft entered a stall from which recovery was not possible. The plane crashed about two miles from the airfield.
Witnesses described a huge fireball, with one saying it looked like a nuclear explosion
. Anchorage Fire Department Captain Bryan Grella described how a fireball extended to around 750 feet (228.6 m) into the air, an estimated 2 miles (3.2 km) from downtown Anchorage. Debris from the crash was spread along 200 feet (61 m) of the Alaska Railroad
tracks which carry passenger and freight trains daily through the base area, north to Wasilla
, although no trains were scheduled to be passing through at the time of the crash.
) and a loadmaster
(a Master Sergeant
) of the Alaska Air National Guard
's 249th Airlift Squadron
, and a pilot (a Captain) of the active duty Air Force's 517th Airlift Squadron
. They were subsequently named as Majors Michael Freyholtz and Aaron Malone, pilots assigned to the Alaska Air National Guard's 249th Airlift Squadron, Capt. Jeffrey Hill, a pilot assigned to Elmendorf's 517th Airlift Squadron, and Master Sgt. Thomas Cicardo, 249th Airlift Squadron loadmaster.
As noted by several aviation commentators,
the crash presented significant similarities with the 1994 crash of a B-52 bomber
at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. On both occasions, the local USAF's chain of command apparently failed to prevent the pilots involved from developing deliberately unsafe flying practices for aerial displays of large aircraft.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
military transport plane crashed on Elmendorf Air Force Base
Elmendorf Air Force Base
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is a United States military facility adjacent to Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska. It is an amalgamation of the former United States Air Force Elmendorf Air Force Base and the United States Army Fort Richardson, which were merged in 2010.-Overview:The...
in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
with the loss of all four crew aboard. The aircraft involved was a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III (tail number 00-0173) and the crash is believed to be the first fatal accident involving a C-17. The crew were preparing for Elmendorf's Arctic Thunder Air Show
Arctic Thunder Air Show
The Arctic Thunder Air Show is an air show and open house event held bi annually at Elmendorf Air Force Base outside of Anchorage, Alaska since 1990. It is a free event open to the general public and one of the largest public events in Alaska...
, which went ahead three days later as a tribute.
Aircraft
The aircraft was a four-engined C-17 Globemaster III built by BoeingBoeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
. It belonged to the 3rd Wing
3d Wing
The 3d Wing is a unit of the United States Air Force, assigned to the Pacific Air Forces Eleventh Air Force. It is stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska....
(3 WG) and operated jointly with the 176th Wing
176th Wing
The 176th Wing is the largest unit of the Alaska Air National Guard. It is a composite wing — meaning a wing which operates more than one type of aircraft — operating out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska...
(176 WG) at Elmendorf AFB, located near downtown Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
. The aircraft had Air Force serial number 00-0173 and was named Spirit of the Aleutians.
The US Air Force has 199 C-17s in service with the active Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
, with the type being based at Elmendorf since June 2007. At the time of the crash the base had eight of the aircraft, operated jointly by an active duty Air Force organization, the 3rd Wing's 517th Airlift Squadron
517th Airlift Squadron
The 517th Airlift Squadron is part of the 3d Wing at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. It operates C-12 Huron and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft providing airlfit in the Pacific theater.-Mission:...
, and an Alaska Air National Guard
Alaska Air National Guard
The Alaska Air National Guard is the component of the United States Air National Guard operating within the state of Alaska.-Overview:Alaska Air National Guard units are trained and equipped as part of the United States Air Force. The same ranks and insignia are used and National Guardsmen are...
unit, the 176th Wing
176th Wing
The 176th Wing is the largest unit of the Alaska Air National Guard. It is a composite wing — meaning a wing which operates more than one type of aircraft — operating out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska...
's 249th Airlift Squadron
249th Airlift Squadron
The 249th Airlift Squadron flies the C-17 Globemaster III . It is a unit of the Alaska Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 176th Wing.-Mission:...
. The mishap was the first fatal crash of a C-17.
Flight
At the time of the crash on Wednesday July 28, 2010, the crew had been conducting a local training flight in preparation for the upcoming Arctic Thunder Air ShowArctic Thunder Air Show
The Arctic Thunder Air Show is an air show and open house event held bi annually at Elmendorf Air Force Base outside of Anchorage, Alaska since 1990. It is a free event open to the general public and one of the largest public events in Alaska...
, to be held at the Elmendorf base over the weekend of July 31 / August 1. The C-17 is commonly featured in US air shows, highlighting its short take-off and landing capability. The plane had previously flown earlier that day with a different crew.
Accident
On July 28, 2010, at approximately 6:22 p.m. Alaska Daylight Time (UTC-8UTC-8
UTC−08:00 is an identifier for a time offset from UTC of −08. This time is used in:-As standard time :*Canada**Northwest Territories***Tungsten and the associated Cantung Mine*Mexico...
) the C-17 took off from Runway 06 at Elmendorf Air Force Base to practice maneuvers for the upcoming Arctic Thunder Air Show. After the initial climb-out and left turn, the pilot executed an aggressive right turn. As the aircraft banked, the stall warning system activated to alert the crew of an impending stall. Instead of implementing stall recovery procedures, the pilot continued the turn as planned, and the aircraft entered a stall from which recovery was not possible. The plane crashed about two miles from the airfield.
Witnesses described a huge fireball, with one saying it looked like a nuclear explosion
Nuclear explosion
A nuclear explosion occurs as a result of the rapid release of energy from an intentionally high-speed nuclear reaction. The driving reaction may be nuclear fission, nuclear fusion or a multistage cascading combination of the two, though to date all fusion based weapons have used a fission device...
. Anchorage Fire Department Captain Bryan Grella described how a fireball extended to around 750 feet (228.6 m) into the air, an estimated 2 miles (3.2 km) from downtown Anchorage. Debris from the crash was spread along 200 feet (61 m) of the Alaska Railroad
Alaska Railroad
The Alaska Railroad is a Class II railroad which extends from Seward and Whittier, in the south of the state of Alaska, in the United States, to Fairbanks , and beyond to Eielson Air Force Base and Fort Wainwright in the interior of that state...
tracks which carry passenger and freight trains daily through the base area, north to Wasilla
Wasilla, Alaska
Wasilla is a city in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, United States and the sixth-largest city in Alaska. It is located on the northern point of Cook Inlet in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley of the southcentral part of the state. The city's population was 7,831 at the 2010 census...
, although no trains were scheduled to be passing through at the time of the crash.
Crew
The crash killed all four crew members aboard, two pilots (both MajorsMajor (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
) and a loadmaster
Loadmaster
A Loadmaster is an aircrew member on military transport aircraft. Loadmasters serve in the Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and Navy of many nations...
(a Master Sergeant
Master Sergeant
A master sergeant is the military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer in some armed forces.-Israel Defense Forces:Rav samal rishoninsignia IDF...
) of the Alaska Air National Guard
Alaska Air National Guard
The Alaska Air National Guard is the component of the United States Air National Guard operating within the state of Alaska.-Overview:Alaska Air National Guard units are trained and equipped as part of the United States Air Force. The same ranks and insignia are used and National Guardsmen are...
's 249th Airlift Squadron
249th Airlift Squadron
The 249th Airlift Squadron flies the C-17 Globemaster III . It is a unit of the Alaska Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 176th Wing.-Mission:...
, and a pilot (a Captain) of the active duty Air Force's 517th Airlift Squadron
517th Airlift Squadron
The 517th Airlift Squadron is part of the 3d Wing at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. It operates C-12 Huron and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft providing airlfit in the Pacific theater.-Mission:...
. They were subsequently named as Majors Michael Freyholtz and Aaron Malone, pilots assigned to the Alaska Air National Guard's 249th Airlift Squadron, Capt. Jeffrey Hill, a pilot assigned to Elmendorf's 517th Airlift Squadron, and Master Sgt. Thomas Cicardo, 249th Airlift Squadron loadmaster.
Aftermath
Track repairs to the nearby railroad caused freight services to be suspended, and passenger services to be diverted by bus. The air show went ahead as planned as a tribute to the four dead airmen.Investigation and reactions
The investigation into the crash was released on December 13, 2010. It blamed pilot error, stating that the pilot's overconfidence in executing an aggressive right-turn maneuver led to a low-altitude stall and subsequent crash, despite the warnings correctly provided by the aircraft's stall-warning system, to which neither the pilot nor any other crew member responded effectively.As noted by several aviation commentators,
the crash presented significant similarities with the 1994 crash of a B-52 bomber
1994 Fairchild Air Force Base B-52 crash
The 1994 Fairchild Air Force Base B-52 crash occurred at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, United States on June 24, 1994 when the pilot of a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, "Bud" Holland, flew the aircraft beyond its operational limits and lost control...
at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. On both occasions, the local USAF's chain of command apparently failed to prevent the pilots involved from developing deliberately unsafe flying practices for aerial displays of large aircraft.
Crash site history
On September 23, 1995 an AWACS aircraft stationed at Elmendorf AFB struck Canadian geese on takeoff and crashed just 100 yards from the site of this C-17 crash.See also
- 1994 Fairchild Air Force Base B-52 crash1994 Fairchild Air Force Base B-52 crashThe 1994 Fairchild Air Force Base B-52 crash occurred at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, United States on June 24, 1994 when the pilot of a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, "Bud" Holland, flew the aircraft beyond its operational limits and lost control...
- List of airshow accidents and incidents
- United States Army AlaskaUnited States Army AlaskaUnited States Army Alaska is a military command of the United States Army located in the state of Alaska, USA. A subordinate command of the United States Army Pacific, USARAK is the ground element of the Alaskan Command. USARAK is headquartered at Fort Richardson and commanded by a major general...
