F-15E CRASH - CREW DEATHS BLAMED ON TARGET ELEVATION DISCREPANCY Published Jan. 18, 2010 By Air Combat Command News Service LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) -- An F-15E Strike Eagle crashed in Afghanistan July 18 because of the flight lead weapons system officer's incorrect assessment of a training target's elevation, according to Air Combat Command officials, who released the results Dec. 1. The crew was killed upon impact, and the $55 million aircraft, assigned to the 4th Fighter Wing, was destroyed. There was no damage to personal property. According to the ACC Accident Investigation Board report, two F-15Es were practicing night high-angle strafe attacks on their return to Bagram Airfield when the flight lead incorrectly assessed the target's altitude as 4,800 feet above sea level. The target was actually at 10,200 feet. Neither crew recognized the discrepancy. The flight lead flew the first practice strafing attack, but discontinued the approach because his angle of attack was too shallow. The mishap crew began their attack and impacted the ground 10 seconds later. No attempt to pull out of the attack was made, and neither the pilot nor the weapons systems officer tried to eject. The board found five factors significantly contributed to the mishap: misperception of the operational conditions in the target area; an erroneous expectation for a typical night strafing attack; inexperience by the flight lead and the mishap crew at executing night strafing; channelized attention; and an improper cross check during the attack.