A USAF Air Force accident investigation board has determined the cause of a KC-135 Stratotanker ground accident that occurred April 1.

Officials said the accident was caused by the failure of aircraft maintainers and operators to follow their inspection checklists and technical order guidance in the unintended pre-flight lowering of the aircraft’s front main landing gear.

The failure to follow guidance resulted in the nose gear of the aircraft retracting and causing two inboard engine nacelles to come in contact with the ground. Damage is estimated at more than $2.1 million. There were no deaths, injuries or property damage as the result of the incident.

Officials found that the guidance and control systems technician failed to lower the landing gear lever according to the guidance following routine maintenance. The board also found that the co-pilot failed to verify the landing gear lever was in the down and secured position as part of the interior inspection checklist according to the guidance.

The aircraft, assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, was forward-deployed at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, providing aerial refueling for aircraft supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

FMI: www.af.mil