Update 1445,
05.31.05: All five crew members have been killed in
what appears to be a weather-related crash of a rugged
turboprop American SportPlane design configured for Recon use
by the UAE and Iraqi military. The Iraqis have only recently
begun to rebuild their Air Force, it having been reestablished just
this last January. Four US Airmen and an Iraqi Airman were on
board.
Military spokesman Lt. Col. Fred Wellman, reported that, "All
the personnel onboard are confirmed to have been killed in action,
but there is still an investigation ongoing."
The Iraqi Air Force consists of a number of disparate aircraft,
including a number of Comp Air 7SL turboprops, four Bell Jet
Rangers and at least three C130Es. The aircraft went down in strong
winds and sand-obscured visibilities about 80 miles NE of Baghdad,
near the village of Jalula. The aircraft left Kirkuk Air Base
at about 10 a.m. on a mission to Jalula.
An Iraqi civilian reported the crash to Joint Communications
Center officials in Khanaqin at noon. Iraqi and coalition forces in
the area responded to the crash site and secured the immediate
area.
The aircraft involved is reported to be an AeroComp CompAir 7
(similar to the aircraft pictured below), powered by a 657HP Walter
turboprop engine capable of allowing the CA7 to cruise at 250-275
mph at 21,000 feet and take-off in as little as 300-400 feet. It
has a useful load (depending on configuration) of 1670 to 2050
pounds, a 150 gallon fuel capacity and seats for 6 or 7 people.
Aircraft Has Limited Data-Logging Capabilities
ANN has confirmed that this aircraft has a number of
instruments that have limited data-logging capability. Several
instruments, mostly engine-related, can hold as much as an hour to
hour and a half's worth of flight data. The Air Force has been
instructed as to how to access that information and it is expected
that this information is likely to be very helpful in determining a
probable cause for this tragedy.
The Comp Air 7SL's, 7 in all, were a gift from the United
Arab Emirates to help Iraq’s Air Force continue to build its
operational capability. The aircraft were delivered to Basrah Air
Base Nov. 13th, 2004. The Comp Air 7SLs were equipped with a sensor
suite enabling them to have a reconn capability, although
intentions (at the time) saw them being used in a utility role. The
seven aircraft represented one half of a gift from the UAE and were
augmented by four Bell Jet Ranger Helicopters in late December.
The CompAirs and Bell Jet Rangers were to comprise the Iraqi Air
Force’s number 3 Squadron, which will operate in a utility
light transport role from ‘New Al Muthana’ - the West
BIAP Air Base currently being refurbished. The Iraqi Air Force also
uses Seeker SB7L Seabird aircraft.
Coalition forces have already secured the crash site northwest
of Baghdad, and crash details have been reported to the joint
communication center in the town of Khanaqin, near the Iranian
border.
The names of the Airmen killed are being withheld pending
notification of next of kin. We'll have more details as they become
available.