Investigation: 2017 Osprey Crash Due to Heavy Downwash; Excessive Aircraft Weight May Have Contributed
By: Megan Eckstein
May 21, 2018 4:56 PM • Updated: May 21, 2018 6:33 PM
This post has been updated to include additional information about the JAGMAN report that was released.
In December 2015, the Marine Corps saw a near-miss when an MV-22B Osprey landed short of its parking spot on an amphibious transport dock’s flight deck. The aircraft hung halfway off the back of the ship, but the crew and 22 passengers evacuated safely and the aircraft clung to the ship as it returned to port.
In an August 2017 Osprey crash off the coast of Australia, though, the Marines saw the nightmare version of the 2015 scenario: the aircraft, facing similar heavy downwash and dropping short of the flight deck, couldn’t grab on to enough of the ship and fell into the water, killing three and injuring 23.
https://news.usni.org/category/aviation
