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Pilot dies after crash at Eielson
NIGHT FLIGHT: Capt. Jonathan Scheer had just taken off on a training mission.
By DAN JOLING
The Associated Press
(Published: February 27, 2004)
An Air Force pilot was killed on a night training mission when his A-10 jet aircraft crashed after takeoff from Eielson Air Force Base outside Fairbanks.
The pilot was identified as Capt. Jonathan Scheer, who was assigned to the 354th Operations Support Squadron but was flying for the 355th Fighter Squadron. The Air Force would not release Scheer's age or hometown, saying only that he was originally from Michigan and had been at Eielson since February 2003, Lt. Teresa Sullivan said Thursday.
A board of Air Force officers will investigate the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board does not investigate military accidents, NTSB officials said.
The jet crashed shortly after takeoff about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Master Sgt. John Norgren said. The crash site was in the Chena River flood plain about three miles from the base.
Eielson emergency units responded along with Alaska State Troopers and the North Pole Fire Department. Rescue workers were able to reach the aircraft with vehicles and did not require helicopters, Norgren said.
Eielson is 26 miles southeast of Fairbanks.
Witnesses told the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner they saw a bright flash after the crash and heard the concussion.
Nathan P. Sapp, a resident of North Pole, 12 miles south of Fairbanks, said he was driving and saw a bright light in the direction of the Chena River flood control project, a dam that can divert high water onto the flood plain.
"I was just driving down the road when I saw the sky kind of light up in kind of an orangish glow for maybe a second, second and a half," Sapp said. "Then it faded to a light peach and went away. I just assumed they were doing some bombing tests on a range or something."
The A-10 was part of the 355th Fighter Squadron. According to the base description of the 355th Fighter Squadron, the unit provides "mission ready" A-10s and has search-and-rescue capability. Night vision goggles give the squadron day and night flying capability.
The A-10 Thunderbolts were the first Air Force aircraft specially designed for close air support of ground forces. A-10s are about 53 feet long and 57 feet wide. They can reach speeds up to 423 mph. Titanium armor protects the pilots and parts of the flight-control system.
Low, slow and clumsy-looking, they are nicknamed "Warthogs." They were designed to destroy tanks and have distinguished themselves in war.
In the 1991 Persian Gulf War, much of the close air support came from A-10s. They have a reputation for excellent maneuverability at low air speeds and altitude. They can fly near battle areas for extended periods and operate under 1,000-foot ceilings with 1.5-mile visibility.
The last Air Force aircraft crash at Eielson was Oct. 10, 1995. In that crash, the pilot of the jet, also an A-10, ejected safely. Since then, there have been three accidents at Eielson, none involving base aircraft.
The most recent crash, July 25, 2001, involved a British Royal Air Force Jaguar. The pilot was killed. The RAF lost another Jaguar in 1996, and the Marine Corps had a fighter crash in 1999.
NIGHT FLIGHT: Capt. Jonathan Scheer had just taken off on a training mission.
By DAN JOLING
The Associated Press
(Published: February 27, 2004)
An Air Force pilot was killed on a night training mission when his A-10 jet aircraft crashed after takeoff from Eielson Air Force Base outside Fairbanks.
The pilot was identified as Capt. Jonathan Scheer, who was assigned to the 354th Operations Support Squadron but was flying for the 355th Fighter Squadron. The Air Force would not release Scheer's age or hometown, saying only that he was originally from Michigan and had been at Eielson since February 2003, Lt. Teresa Sullivan said Thursday.
A board of Air Force officers will investigate the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board does not investigate military accidents, NTSB officials said.
The jet crashed shortly after takeoff about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Master Sgt. John Norgren said. The crash site was in the Chena River flood plain about three miles from the base.
Eielson emergency units responded along with Alaska State Troopers and the North Pole Fire Department. Rescue workers were able to reach the aircraft with vehicles and did not require helicopters, Norgren said.
Eielson is 26 miles southeast of Fairbanks.
Witnesses told the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner they saw a bright flash after the crash and heard the concussion.
Nathan P. Sapp, a resident of North Pole, 12 miles south of Fairbanks, said he was driving and saw a bright light in the direction of the Chena River flood control project, a dam that can divert high water onto the flood plain.
"I was just driving down the road when I saw the sky kind of light up in kind of an orangish glow for maybe a second, second and a half," Sapp said. "Then it faded to a light peach and went away. I just assumed they were doing some bombing tests on a range or something."
The A-10 was part of the 355th Fighter Squadron. According to the base description of the 355th Fighter Squadron, the unit provides "mission ready" A-10s and has search-and-rescue capability. Night vision goggles give the squadron day and night flying capability.
The A-10 Thunderbolts were the first Air Force aircraft specially designed for close air support of ground forces. A-10s are about 53 feet long and 57 feet wide. They can reach speeds up to 423 mph. Titanium armor protects the pilots and parts of the flight-control system.
Low, slow and clumsy-looking, they are nicknamed "Warthogs." They were designed to destroy tanks and have distinguished themselves in war.
In the 1991 Persian Gulf War, much of the close air support came from A-10s. They have a reputation for excellent maneuverability at low air speeds and altitude. They can fly near battle areas for extended periods and operate under 1,000-foot ceilings with 1.5-mile visibility.
The last Air Force aircraft crash at Eielson was Oct. 10, 1995. In that crash, the pilot of the jet, also an A-10, ejected safely. Since then, there have been three accidents at Eielson, none involving base aircraft.
The most recent crash, July 25, 2001, involved a British Royal Air Force Jaguar. The pilot was killed. The RAF lost another Jaguar in 1996, and the Marine Corps had a fighter crash in 1999.
