ACC releases QF-4E accident report
Air Combat Command
Release Date: 8/27/2003
8/27/2003 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) -- Air Combat Command investigators determined the failure of a telemetry system caused a loss of connectivity during an unmanned QF-4E flight May 22. The aircraft was intentionally destroyed over White Sands Missile Range, N.M., near Holloman AFB, by technicians remotely controlling the aircraft from a mobile ground station located within the range complex.
According to the Accident Investigation Board report released today by Air Combat Command, after takeoff the drone detected a loss of connectivity signal. This happens when the ground portion of the drone control system is unable to send commands to or receive information from the drone. Controllers used the ground-based Ultra-High Frequency flight termination system to destroy the drone.
The unmanned QF-4E, assigned to the 53rd Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla., was being operated by the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, Detachment 1, at Holloman AFB.
The drone was supporting a live-fire mission and was slated to be shot down with an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile.
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