Operator in Nevada blamed for crash of unmanned Predator in Iraq

[Robbien]

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Pilot error in Nevada caused the March 20 crash of an unmanned, remotely-controlled Predator spy plane in Iraq, the Air Force said.

The MQ-1L Predator assigned to the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas was flying at about 126 mph when it lost altitude, according to a statement released Monday by Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base, Va.

The pilot mistakenly blamed the loss of altitude on a control problem and turned off the plane's stability control system, which sent the $4.3 million plane into a steep dive and caused it to lose its satellite communications link, according to the statement.

The armed Predator crashed in an unpopulated area with no injuries reported, Air Combat Command officials said.

At the time of the crash, the Air Force said the plane was operating out of Balad Air Base, Iraq, controlled from a ground station at Creech Air Force Base, 45 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2006/jul/18/071810387.html

[Beelzebud]

1. War - It's just like a video game!

/me pukes.

[Ian David]

2. The pilot of that drone bailed-out and was captured...

Free Special Ops Cody!

[uppityperson]

3. special ops Cody got captured again?

poor Cody

[SpiralHawk]

4. kommander AWOL -- who lied us into this oil-profits war -- is RESPONSIBLE

Bush told the WMD and other lies that caused the war and made Massive Oil profits for his republicon oil cronies.

AWOL Bush and republicons are responsible.

As usual, they are trying to blame some poor slob way down the so-called chain of command.

[medeak]

5. Creech Air Force Base?

that's a new one...have live in NV entire life...Nellis yes..but Creech? Is that area 51 or such?

edited to say...Old Indian Springs site...yes..Old Nevada Test site:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/indian-springs.htm

[enlightenment]

6. Actually, yes. Strange name for the place,

but I think it has something to do with a geographic area around Groom Lake.

I've got a list of all the military facilities in NV in one of my lectures -- I'll see if I can dig it up.

on edit: can't type

[medeak]

7. Indian Springs

is exactly where the entrance to Nevada Test Site is (area 51)

[enlightenment]

8. Creech was the old name for the place -- WWII.

Seems to me it was deactivated after the war, reactivated for Korea, deactivated afterward -- can't recall if it was reactivated again before the AF decided to put the Predator squadron there. The city of Indian Springs changed the name, I think.