NTSB Cited Numerous Problems Led To AZ Crash

Bust-up one $8 million advanced unmanned aerial vehicle, and you're toast. That's the word from officials with the US Customs and Border Protection agency, which on Wednesday said the pilot in command of a Predator B that crashed near Nogales, AZ in April 2006 was let go from CBP duty over the incident.

As ANN reported earlier this week, the National Transportation Safety Board determined the accident was likely due to the ground-based pilot's failure to follow the checklist when switching control of the aircraft to a new console, after his panel locked up. The error led to the shut-down of the aircraft's fuel valve, leading to engine failure.

The NTSB also noted the pilot -- a contractor, hired by Predator manufacturer General Atomics -- was going through refresher training at the time of the accident.

The fact he had control of an active Predator was a violation of regulations, the Board determined; adding insult to injury, the pilot's instructor was not present at the time.

Doug Koupash, acting program manager for the Predator B, admitted mission directors likely failed to realize the pilot shouldn't have been at the controls.

"What we probably didn't understand was that he was trying to do the training while the mission was going on -- because that's a no-no," Koupash said. He added the accident pilot still works at General Atomics, but in another capacity.

"[S]o it's their call as to what to do with him," Koupash told The Associated Press. "He said he ignored the checklist."

CBP began training its own pilots recently, he added. Prior to now, all Predators flying for the CBP have been in the hands of contractors.

Overall, Koupash said, the NTSB's findings were in line with what CBP investigators determined.

FMI: www.cbp.gov, Read The NTSB Probable Cause Report