Drone crash caused by loss of coolant, Air Force report says
HAMPTON, Va. – An Air Force investigative report says a Predator drone, which was controlled out of Nevada, crashed in Afghanistan in January because of a loss of engine coolant.
The aircraft and one air-to-ground Hellfire missile were destroyed on impact just outside a fence at Kandahar Air Base. There were no injuries or property damage.
The accident report was released by Air Combat Command at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia on Thursday.
The Air Force estimates the value of the loss at $4.5 million. Among other things, the accident investigation board president found that a maintainer failed to detect damage on the coolant supply line during an engine inspection.
The drone was operated by the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron, 432d Wing at Creech Air Force Base.