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November 12, 2009

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Pilot error blamed in crash of Predator craft at Nellis

Friday, June 10, 2005 | 11:08 a.m.

Pilot error caused the Nov. 24 crash of an MQ-IL Predator unmanned aerial vehicle based at Nellis Air Force Base, according to an aircraft investigation board report released today by the Air Force.

During a check flight, the Predator had a navigation system malfunction that resulted in the pilot (who flies the craft from a remote location) deciding to immediately land the aircraft, officials said. During the landing, the pilot failed to disengage the airspeed hold, and the Predator wasn't in proper configuration to land, the report said.

The Predator, assigned to the 57th Wing at Nellis, hit the ground short of the runway and was destroyed on impact. The value of the damaged craft was about $3.5 million. No one was injured.

The investigation found that despite the navigation system malfunction, it didn't prevent the aircraft from landing safely.

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