F-22 Crash Report

[mirth]

The DoD Inspector General's Office released it's review of the Air Force Investigation that blamed an 2010 F-22 crash on the pilot. The review takes issue with several of the investigation's conclusion.

In a nutshell, it wasn't pilot error. At least not based on the evidence provided by the Air Force.

http://www.dodig.mil/pubs/report_summary.cfm?id=5025

[Longdan]

I have been involved in a number of aircraft accident investigations over the years but only two involved
military aircraft.  None involved US military aircraft.  Military people are very reluctant to share any information
about their accident investigation procedures.  This report is very interesting in that respect.
The big problem with civilian accident investigations is that somewhere over 90% of them are pilot error.
It is hard not to start with the idea that it is pilot error especially if there is no direct evidence of a
mechanical failure.  Mechanical failures are very rare and usually obvious so when it appears the
aircraft flew into the ground that is usually what happened: the aircraft was flown into the ground.
Everybody always knows a legend of how a crash wasn't the pilots fault but was blamed on him.
This happens, but in civilian accidents it is a very rare incident.

[eyebiter]

Any mention of the F-22 oxygen system issue in the report?

[Longdan]

Yes.

[Martok]

Damn.  Even though the report is written in your typical dry "bureaucratese", one cannot fail to discern the scathing contempt it has for the Air Force's investigation of the incident.  I almost want to gift a jar of Vaseline to the latter so they can soothe the new ass**** the IG's office just tore them... 

Similarly, the AF's comments on the report -- and the IG's response to said comments -- indicate about as open a slap-fight as you'll ever see. 

Any mention of the F-22 oxygen system issue in the report?

That was my first thought as well. 

[Longdan]

A civilian aircraft accident is like a car or a bus accident.  The appropriate authorities investigate and make
rulings if required.  Military aircraft accident investigations involve so many other factors both military and political
that I cannot list them all and would ask you to use your imagination.....  On top of that they make every attempt
to keep any other outside agency out of it in every way.  In one case only a few years ago I was on duty when
there was an accident involving a foreign military group doing an exercise at a nearby Canadian military area.
The very short version is they dropped a palette of artillery ammunition on some poor guy who was there to
unload it.  Medical help was dispatched and I foned over to talk to one of the officers in charge about the information
we had on hand that they could use to investigate the accident.  He was understandably very upset but took
the opportunity to tell me to mind my own business and that they needed no help from anybody ever.
They have their own rules and priorities which are not ours to question.  That is why that report is such a good read.