iscover
An RAAF F-111 in its element: bombed up, low and fast. In such a high stress situation the currency of the aircrew and their sense of ‘team’ are surely vital ingredients in achieving a safe conclusion to the mission. (Defence PR)
RAAF F-111 Crash Report Implications
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Raaf F-111 Crash Raises Questions
The fatal crash of Raaf F-111C A8-127 during a simulated night attack on the meatworks at Guyra, Nsw in September 1993 could be explained away as just an operational accident of the type which is going to occur from time to time due to the nature of the flying involved — low altitude, high speed, and in this case at night and in poor weather with gusting winds, rain, and low cloud.
But there seems to be a case for asking whether some systemic problems contributed to the accident, notably a lack of currency on the part of both crewmembers (especially the pilot), a lack of established rapport between the pilot and navigator, and the lack of a suitable simulator in which the crew could work up to an appropriate level of currency before venturing out on a ‘real’ mission.The accident occurred during the egress manoeuvre following ‘bomb’ release, the aircraft entering an unplanned diving flightpath into the ground. According to the accident investigation summary: “At the pre-determined pullup point the pilot initiated a pullup after depressing the bomb release button but told his navigator he was having difficulty in achieving — and did not achieve — the planned 3g for the attack. The most likely reason for this difficulty is that the pilot did not disengage the Auto Tf (Terrain Following) system, which was trying to lower the nose of the aircraft, while he was trying to raise it.”
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