Air Force officials completed their investigation of the Aug. 16 incident involving a T-1A Jayhawk. The aircraft from Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, departed the runway during a landing rollout at Keesler AFB, Miss., and sustained an estimated $2.5 million in structural damage.

Accident investigation officials determined the accident was caused by a combination of factors during the landing sequence. The factors included inexperience, speed and a wet runway.

The student pilot, 2nd Lt. Tiffany Ley of the 86th Flying Training Squadron at Laughlin, flew faster than the computed approach and landing speeds. She then maintained higher than idle thrust during the first few seconds after touchdown.

As a result, the speed brakes and spoilers could not deploy to slow the aircraft. The runway was also wet, and the aircraft went into a hydroplane skid after the instructor pilot, 1st Lt. Nancy Badgett selected the emergency brakes. She is also assigned to the 86th FTS.

Officials determined the crewmembers were inexperienced and did not recognize the difficult braking situation.

The aircraft left the runway and came to a stop 190 feet off the end of the runway. The accident occurred during a specialized undergraduate pilot cross-country training mission. Neither crewmember was injured.

FMI: www.af.mil