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A B-52 pilot aborting takeoff, along with a drag
chute failure, caused the May 2016 mishap that destroyed the Stratofortress at
Andersen AFB, Guam, the Air Force announced Wednesday. At 8:32 a.m. on May 16,
2016, a B-52 assigned to the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron at
Andersen was taking off as part of a routine training mission. During takeoff,
a pilot “analyzed bird activity and perceived cockpit indications as a loss of
symmetric thrust” to the point where the pilot thought the B-52 could not
safely take off. The pilot then began abort procedures, during which a drag
chute failed, according to an Air Force Global Strike Command Accident
Investigation Board report released Wednesday. During the aborted takeoff, the
B-52 also exceeded brake energy limits. The aircraft overran the runway and
caught fire. All seven aircrew members escaped, with one treated for minor
injuries. The B-52 was a total loss, valued at $112 million. The bomber was
deployed from Minot AFB, N.D., and was part of a continuous bomber presence
mission at Andersen.
This entry was updated on April 20 to accurately reflect the steps that led to the mishap.
