'Pilot Error' Not Limited To Manned Aircraft Accidents | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-09.15.25

AirborneNextGen-
09.09.25

Airborne-Unlimited-09.10.25

Airborne-AffordableFlyers-09.11.25

AirborneUnlimited-09.12.25

Sun, Jan 28, 2007

'Pilot Error' Not Limited To Manned Aircraft Accidents

Cause Cited In August Predator UAV Crash

Air Force investigators ruled this week that pilot error caused an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle to crash during a training mission at Nevada's Creech AFB last August.

According to the aircraft accident investigation report released Friday, the Predator's civilian contractor pilot inadvertently pressed the wrong switch while attempting to retract the aircraft's landing gear. Instead, the pilot shut off the aircraft's engine... while the aircraft was approximately 500 feet above ground level.

The pilot attempted to glide the aircraft (file photo of type, above) back to the runway, but the aircraft crashed just off the runway. There were no injuries or fatalities from the accident... though the repair bill for the aircraft totaled $1,436,765.

The MQ-1 Predator is a medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV system. Its primary mission is interdiction and armed reconnaissance. The accident aircraft was assigned to the 11th Reconnaisance Squadron at Creech AFB.

(ANN thanks Air Combat Command News Service for this report)

FMI: www.af.mil

Advertisement

More News

NTSB Prelim: Lancair NLA-275-FR-C

About 2132 And At 11,800 Ft MSL, The Airplane Began A Rapid Right Spiraling Descent On August 18, 2025, about 2133 central daylight time, a Lancair NLA-275-FR-C airplane, N345LA, w>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (09.12.25)

Aero Linx: The Collings Foundation The Collings Foundation is a non-profit, Educational Foundation (501(c)3), founded in 1979. The purpose of the Foundation is to preserve and exhi>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (09.12.25)

"This first FAA certification enables us to address the pilot shortage crisis with modern training solutions. Flight schools need alternatives to aging fleets with 40-year-old desi>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (09.12.25): North Atlantic High Level Airspace (NAT HLA)

North Atlantic High Level Airspace (NAT HLA) That volume of airspace (as defined in ICAO Document 7030) between FL 285 and FL 420 within the Oceanic Control Areas of Bodo Oceanic, >[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (09.13.25)

“HITRON embodies the Coast Guard’s spirit of innovation and adaptability. From its humble beginnings as a prototype program, it has evolved into a vital force in our co>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC