UPDATE #2 T-6A Texan II Crash

  • Published
  • By 12th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
  • 12th Flying Training Wing
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas --  The T-6A Texan II operations at JBSA-Randolph remain paused Wednesday following the crash of a 12th Operations Group T-6 near Rolling Oaks Mall at approximately 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018. At the direction of the 12th Flying Training Wing commander, Col. Mark S. Robinson, the 12th Operations Group resumed flying operations with the base’s other training aircraft, the T-38C Talon and T-1A Jayhawk, at approximately 12 pm on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018. 

“It appears the aircraft experienced engine failure on final approach at low altitude, configured for landing before our Airmen ejected,” Robinson said, speaking of the T-6 crash.  “The interim safety board will be looking at all aspects of the aircraft, to include the engine components, to determine the cause of the crash,” Robinson said.

The crew ejected safely and were treated and released at the clinic on JBSA-Randolph that Tuesday night.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the long standing community partnerships we enjoy, and I would like to offer my personal thanks on behalf of the 12th FTW family to the citizens and first responders who were so eager to attend to the well-being of our pilots,” Robinson said.

The T-6 crew members are Lt. Col. Lee Glenn, an Active Guard and Reserve T-6 instructor pilot in the 559th Flying Training Squadron who is assigned to the 340th Flying Training Group at JBSA-Randolph and 1st Lt. Nicholas Donato who is a pilot in the 559th FTS on temporary duty at JBSA-Randolph for instructor training.

“I have established an interim safety board to preserve evidence until a formal safety board is established this week,” said Robinson. “It’s important that we give the safety board the time and resources needed to complete the difficult task ahead,” Robinson said.

The Air Force has conducted flying training operations at JBSA-Randolph since 1930 and for the last five years has averaged approximately 30 thousand sorties per year. The 12th FTW was the recipient of a 19th Air Force safety award for 2017.

There were no civilian casualties, and the extent of damage to property is still being evaluated.

Visit the 12th Flying Training Wing website at https://www.12ftw.af.mil/ for information about the unit’s training mission and the T-6A Texan II.