Air Force grounds fleet after Mo. crash
Nov. 9, 2007
The U.S. Air Force grounded its entire fleet of Boeing F-15 Eagle fighter jets until the results of an investigation into the Nov. 2 crash of a Missouri Air National Guard F-15C fighter are revealed.
Missouri Air National Guard Capt. Bridget Zorin said the pilot was performing basic fighter maneuvers, training in what is called a "1 v. 1," with another fighter before the non-fatal crash.
"It's a practice dogfight, if you will," she said. "Those are actually fairly routine."
Zorin said pilots participate in yearly refreshers to make sure their skills are honed.
Air Force spokeswoman Jennifer Bentley said there are no findings in the investigation yet.
"The investigation team just started this week on the investigation, and we haven't heard anything yet," Bentley said.
She said a preliminary investigation revealed a structural issue could have been a problem.
The pilot, who safely ejected, landed in a wooded area near Dent County, according to a National Guard news release. The pilot's name has not yet been released.
Boss, Mo., resident Ted Pryor said he was outside Doe Run Buick Resource Recycling Facility when he noticed a jet circling nearby.
"I went and got my co-worker and said, 'I think something's wrong,'" he said. "We got in the truck and drove down the road that I thought was close."
Pryor said several people were already on site when he arrived. He said several other people helped medical personnel move the pilot from the woods, and he assisted in loading the man into the helicopter.
"It was a community effort," he said. "There wasn't a star. It was a bunch of guys getting together to help the guy out."
Pryor said the pilot was quiet when they moved him.
"You could just tell he was shook up," he said.
Pryor said the pilot was also grateful.
"He said 'I just appreciate everything everyone's done for me,'" Pryor said.
A National Guard news release stated the pilot suffered a dislocated shoulder, broken arm and cuts and bruises, but he was released from the hospital on Nov. 3.
Zorin said the time frame for the pilot returning to duty is yet to be determined. She said the results of the investigation would play a role in when he would return.
Zorin said the 131st Fighter Wing wasn't conducting regular business after the grounding, but there was still work to be done.
Bentley said the Air Force did not expect the grounding of the F-15s to be a problem.
"It's not going to have an effect to our operations," she said. "We still stand ready to accomplish our missions as needed."
U.S. National Guard spokesman Rick Breitenfeldt said in an e-mail that the USAF has approximately 670 F-15s of various models in inventory.
Boeing has also gotten involved in the investigation.
"We've offered our assistance as we always do in instances of this sort," Boeing spokeswoman Patricia Frost said.
According to Boeing's Web site, the fighter has been in service for 25 years and is also operated by Israel, Saudi Arabia and Japan.
"We did contact them to make them aware of our situation," Bentley said. "We'll share any pertinent information with them."
Frost said Israel, Saudi Arabia and Japan grounded their F-15s, but newer models being used in South Korea and Singapore are still in production.
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