MQ-9A crash abbreviated accident investigation report released

  • Published
  • Air Combat Command

Today, Air Combat Command released an Abbreviated Accident Investigation Board report regarding an MQ-9A Reaper that crashed March 1, 2023, into terrain short of the runway threshold in an undisclosed location within the United States Africa Command area of responsibility. The mishap resulted in no fatalities, nor injuries or reported damage to civilian property. The loss of government property was valued at $16.7 million. 

The aircraft belonged to the 432d Wing, Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. At the time of the mishap, the aircraft was operated remotely in the AFRICOM AOR by a Launch and Recovery Element from the 12th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron, a forward deployed extension of the 12th Special Operations Squadrons from Cannon AFB, New Mexico. The LRE was comprised of a pilot and sensor operator.

The AAIB president determined the cause of the mishap was an ill-timed electrical short in the primary communications bus, caused by pre-existing cable connection damage, coupled with the pilot’s delay in executing an immediate stall recovery. 

Given the circumstances of this compound emergency, including the short processing time, the lack of engine indications, the lack of normal stall indications, and the aircraft’s very low altitude above the ground, the board president assessed that only an immediate maximum power stall recovery would have had a chance of recovering the aircraft, but this action was not accomplished.

The AAIB report can be viewed at 1 March 2023 ACC MQ-9 AFRICOM- AAIB Report.