A T-38C Talon II trainer aircraft crashed after it departed the runway before taking off from Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas, Tuesday morning, the base said in a release.
The two pilots of the T-38 ejected from the aircraft and were taken to local medical centers, Sheppard said. Their condition is stable.
The plane, from the 80th Flying Training Wing, crashed at about 10:13 a.m. local time at the Sheppard air field, the release said. Emergency crews are responding to the crash and an investigation into its causes has begun.
One pilot was taken to United Regional Medical Center in Wichita Falls, and the other was taken to the clinic at Sheppard.
In addition to training U.S. pilots, the 80th Flying Training Wing teaches the fighter pilots of 14 NATO allies as part of the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program. This program trains half of the Air Force’s fighter pilots and conducts all fighter pilot training for NATO allies Belgium, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands and Norway, the 80th’s website said.
There have been several T-38 crashes in recent months.
A Talon II from Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma crashed Aug. 17, but the pilot ejected safely and was not seriously injured.
However, a T-38 crash near Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas last November killed one of the two pilots. That accident was caused by a dual failure of the trainer’s troubled airframe-mounted gearboxes, according to a report released last month. The accident investigation board also said the pilots became distracted during checklist procedures, which led to one pilot’s ejection seat not being armed, which contributed directly to his death.
Narrative:
The aircraft impacted airport terrain during a takeoff attempt at Sheppard Air Force Base/Wichita Falls Municipal Airport (KSPS),Wichita Falls, Texas. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the two pilots onboard survived ejection with unspecified injuries.
Sources:
https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/local-news/aircraft-incident-reported-at-sheppard-air-force-base/1434189627
https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/09/11/t-38-crashes-at-sheppard-pilots-stable-after-ejecting/
Date: 11-SEP-2018
Time: 10:20
Type:
Northrop T-38 Talon II
Owner/operator: USAF (United States Air Force)
Registration:
C/n / msn:
Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities: 0
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Location: Sheppard AFB/Wichita Falls Municipal Airport (KSPS),Wichita Falls, TX -
United States of America Phase: Take off
Nature: Military
Departure airport: Sheppard AFB (KSPS)
Destination airport: