Two Aircraft Damaged In September Crash At Manas Airport In Kyrgyz Republic

The US Air Force's Air Mobility Command (AMC) today released the results of its investigation into the September 26 KC-135R aircraft accident at Manas International Airport, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic.

On September 26, at approximately 8:03 p.m. local time, a KC-135R tanker landed at Manas International Airport following a combat mission over Afghanistan. After landing, the KC-135R was parked at the intersection of the active runway and a taxiway while the crew awaited clarification on instructions from the air traffic control tower.

The tanker was struck by a departing Kyrgyz TU-154. The TU-154's right wing struck the fairing of the KC-135R's number 1 engine nearly severing it from aircraft and destroying a portion of its left wing.

The TU-154 lost approximately six feet of its right wingtip, but was able to get airborne and return to the airport for an emergency landing with no additional damage to the aircraft.

AMC says the collision was clearly an accident and not the result of any intentional conduct. The Accident Investigation Board (AIB) convened by AMC determined the accident was caused by a Kyrgyzaeronavigation air traffic controller who cleared the TU-154 for takeoff without verifying the tanker was clear of the runway.

Besides the controller, the AIB identified several contributing factors involving the tanker's crew, conflicting published airport notices, and a contract tower liaison officer employed by the US Government to facilitate communication between the tower and US aircrews.

Although the AIB found the air traffic controller primarily at fault, the tanker crew and tower liaison shared responsibility for ensuring the tanker safely cleared the runway after landing. AMC says the accident might have been avoided had the crew and liaison exercised better awareness of the situation.

None of the aircrew or passengers onboard the TU-154 sustained any injuries. One KC-135 crewmember sustained minor abrasions while evacuating the aircraft.

The AIB determined the following factors also contributed to the mishap:

• The Kyrgyz air traffic controller's instruction to vacate at taxiway Golf after dark conflicted with a published Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that limited that taxiway's use to daylight hours. The liaison did not clarify the apparent discrepancy
• After questioning the Kyrgyz controller's instruction to vacate the runway at taxiway Golf, the liaison instructed the tanker crew to hold short of Alpha. The mishap KC-135R crew misunderstood the liaison's instructions and responded "holding short of Golf." The liaison failed to catch the read-back error
• The Kyrgyz controller failed to maintain awareness of the tanker's location
• The liaison failed to maintain situational awareness and intervene when the controller's actions endangered the KC-135R and its aircrew

The tanker and its crew is assigned to the 92nd Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild AFB, WA. While deployed at Manas AB, they were assigned to US Central Command's 376th Air Expeditionary Wing flying missions supporting coalition aircraft over Afghanistan.

FMI: www.af.mil