Investigation Summary
The accident occurred during a scheduled 6.2 hour training sortie. While Yukla 27 was holding short of runway 06, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules departed, flushing a flock of Canada geese into the air. The tower controller did not alert the E-3 crew to the presence of the birds. As the Sentry rotated for liftoff, it struck the flock, causing a catastrophic failure of the number 2 engine and a stall in the number 1 engine. The crew initiated a fuel jettison and a slow climbing turn to the left to return to the airfield. However, the fuel jettison was ineffective due to the immediate onset of the stall and low altitude; the stick shaker activated only four seconds after the jettison was commanded. The asymmetric thrust and weight of the aircraft made sustained flight impossible. The aircraft flew approximately 1.28 kilometers (0.8 mile) before striking trees, then traveled another 0.72 kilometers (0.45 mile) before impacting the ground. The impact sequence involved the aircraft striking nose-first and sliding to a hilltop where the empennage broke off, followed by a roll that disintegrated the fuselage and rotodome.
Final Conclusions
The USAF Aircraft Investigation Board (AIB) concluded the probable cause was the ingestion of Canada geese into the number 1 and 2 engines. Contributing factors included the 3rd Wing's lack of an aggressive program to detect and deter geese, and insufficient preparations for the bird migration season by the Bird Hazard Reduction Working Group (BHRWG). Additionally, the tower controller failed to notify the crew or airfield management that geese were present on the infield prior to the takeoff roll.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
P&W JT3D (TF33-100A) Engines
The aircraft was powered by four engines; the ingestion of birds caused a catastrophic failure of the #2 engine and a stall of the #1 engine, both located on the left wing.
Fuel Jettison System
The crew attempted to use this system to reduce the aircraft's weight for an emergency landing, but the low altitude and rapid descent prevented it from being effective.
AN/APY-1/2 Radar (Rotodome)
The distinctive rotating radar dome on top of the fuselage impacted the ground as the aircraft rolled, contributing to the final breakup of the airframe.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft (serial 77-0354) first flew on July 5, 1978, and was delivered to the USAF on January 19, 1979.
- 02All 24 personnel on board, including 22 U.S. Air Force members and 2 Canadian Air Force members, were killed.
- 03The aircraft had previously served in Operation Desert Storm, controlling the shootdown of four Iraqi fighters.
- 04The total flight time from rotation to impact was approximately 42 seconds.
- 05The investigation found that a previous safety visit had misled the 3rd Wing into believing their bird deterrent programs were adequate.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Bird Hazard Reduction Program Overhaul
Source ↗The 3rd Wing implemented more aggressive programs to detect and deter birds, particularly during migration seasons, following the failure of the previous Bird Hazard Reduction Working Group (BHRWG) preparations.
ATC Reporting Procedures
Procedures were reinforced for tower controllers to immediately report bird sightings on or near the airfield to both departing aircraft and airfield management.