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December 1, 2009

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Cause of crash of unmanned aircraft called human error

Thursday, Oct. 31, 2002 | 11:30 a.m.

Air Force investigators have determined that human error caused the May 17 crash of an unmanned Nellis Air Force Base aircraft.

An RQ-1 Predator, valued at $3.3 million, crashed at a classified location and was destroyed on impact. No one was injured. The plane was assigned to the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron at Nellis and was deployed as part of the 386th Expeditionary Group.

An Air Combat Command accident investigation report released Wednesday said inaccurate assembly of the right tail plane control servo was the cause.

Meanwhile, an Air Force investigation into the crash last week of an unmanned military plane in a remote area near Indian Springs, continues.

That RQ-1 Predator from the 11th Reconnaissance Squadron of the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base crashed into the side of a mountain in the Nevada Test and Training Range. The plane was on a training mission when it crashed, the Air Force said.

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