{"id":39355,"date":"2018-11-19T17:51:41","date_gmt":"2018-11-19T17:51:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/11\/19\/investigation-pilot-error-incorrect-data-caused-f-22-to-crash-skid-on-takeoff\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:10:31","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:10:31","slug":"investigation-pilot-error-incorrect-data-caused-f-22-to-crash-skid-on-takeoff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2018\/11\/19\/investigation-pilot-error-incorrect-data-caused-f-22-to-crash-skid-on-takeoff\/","title":{"rendered":"Investigation: Pilot error, incorrect data caused F-22 to crash, skid on takeoff"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An F-22A Raptor<\/a> crashed and skidded on its belly during a botched takeoff in Nevada in April because its pilot was using the wrong takeoff data and prematurely retracted his landing gear, according to an Air Force investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The accident investigation board report, which was posted online Thursday<\/a>, concluded that pilot error was to blame for the April 13 crash at Naval Air Station Fallon. The pilot was unharmed in the mishap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The F-22<\/a> was from the 90th Fighter Squadron in the 3rd Wing at Alaska\u2019s Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson<\/a>, but was in Nevada to take part in a Top Gun graduation ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Raptor\u2019s takeoff and landing data \u2014 which is used to set the speed for rotation, or when the pilot pulls back on the stick to lift the plane\u2019s nose, and set the takeoff pitch attitude and takeoff speed \u2014 was calculated for a 10,000-foot runway at sea level, which are conditions at Elmendorf, the report said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, NAS Fallon is 3,934 feet above sea level, and its runway is 13,961. What\u2019s more, the takeoff data was calculated for an 80-degree day, but the temperature on the day of the mishap was 46 degrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This meant that the pilot raised his F-22\u2032s nose and attempted to take off at airspeeds that were 16 or 17 percent lower than what they should have been. The report said the F-22 momentarily became airborne, but didn\u2019t have enough lift to stay in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The F-22 at Naval Air Station Fallon in Nevada being lifted off its belly by a crane. (From Air Force amn\/nco\/snco)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The pilot also used visual clues to determine that he was airborne, the report said. But he wasn\u2019t at the correct takeoff speed and didn\u2019t use his instruments to verify he was climbing at the correct rate, the report said. He retracted his landing gear about 1 second after the weight-on-wheels switch indicated the landing gear was no longer in contact with the ground, which was about twice as fast as he usually did on other sorties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At about the same time the pilot began to retract the landing gear, the Raptor\u2019s aft section contacted the runway, and its nose began to drop down until its belly made complete contact.<\/p>\n\n\n\t