Jet that crashed near Nellis lost power while preparing to land, NTSB says
A Vietnam War-era jet that crashed Aug. 18 lost power as it turned in preparation for a landing at Nellis Air Force Base, investigators for the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report.
The Douglas A-4K Skyhawk, operated by an experienced pilot for contractor Draken International, was returning to the base with another A-4 after portraying enemy aircraft in an air combat exercise at the Nevada Test and Training Range.
The pilot told investigators he was at the controls of the lead plane returning to Nellis when “the airplane experienced a loss of engine power,” according to the report.
“The pilot at first initiated a turn towards the airport; however, he realized that he was unable to make the runway and consequently turned left towards a field and then initiated ejection,” it said.
The preliminary report said after the pilot ejected the aircraft “struck terrain,” breaching a stone wall before coming to rest on its right side, where it was then “consumed by fire.”
The pilot suffered minor injuries after he ejected, it said.
A Draken International official said Monday the aircraft’s engine had been inspected recently at the original equipment manufacturer’s facility.
“It was inspected in accordance with their procedures,” the Draken official wrote in a text message to the Review-Journal.
“At this time we have completed a number of precautionary inspections,” the official said, adding that the company’s A-4 fleet has been cleared to resume flying.
The federal civilian NTSB is probing the accident jointly with U.S. Air Force Accident Investigation Board.
The jet was one of 10 that Draken International flies as adversaries for Nellis training exercises. It was in the vicinity of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway when it went down at 7:39 a.m. near North Sloan Lane and East Ann Road, 1 mile north of the base.
About 14 hours later, at 10 p.m. on Aug. 18, A Pave Hawk rescue helicopter from Nellis Air Force Base crashed northeast of Hiko in Lincoln County during a nighttime training mission.
Four crew members from the Air Force HH-60 helicopter were treated for minor injuries at a local medical facility.
Contact Keith Rogers at krogers@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0308. Find him on Twitter: @KeithRogers2
