Latest news with #CH-53ESuperStallion
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
After his son was killed in a Marine helicopter crash, a father says outdated technology robbed loved ones of answers
A Marine helicopter that slammed into a snowy mountain peak in Southern California last year, killing all five service members on board, was not equipped with a device that preserves flight data in a crash — a hindrance investigators say limited their probe and relatives fear has robbed them of ever finding out what caused the disaster. The fatal nighttime flight on Feb. 6, 2024, occurred during a routine training mission and as a winter storm brought days of heavy rain and snow to the San Diego area. An investigation report released this week shows that pilot error was the root cause of the crash, with icing conditions and low cloud cover being contributing factors. But investigators said they could only make assumptions since they had not found the aircraft's memory cards that contain flight and maintenance data and because the helicopter did not have what's known as a crash survivable flight data recorder. The device, also known as a 'black box,' would have provided key information, such as altitude and speed, and would have helped investigators reconstruct the events leading up to the incident, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. Federal law requires large commercial aircraft and some smaller ones to have one. The CH-53E Super Stallion that was carrying five young Marines, including one new father and another newlywed, did not have one, though some Marine helicopters do. Without sufficient evidence, including voice recordings and even the exact weather conditions the crew faced, investigators offered 'multiple realistic theories' of what might have happened, including the possibility that night-vision goggles prevented the pilots from seeing the peak. 'We may never know the exact reason for this root cause,' the report said. Steve Langen, whose son Alec was on the doomed aircraft, criticized the uncertainty, saying grieving families and the military need more than just strong guesses to find closure and learn critical lessons after mishaps and disasters. 'They have no flight data. They have no recordings, none of anything,' said Langen, 56, of Chandler, Arizona. 'This is 2025, and we're flying with equipment that's from the mid-'80s.' Langen, who was also a Marine aviator, said he urged the Marines to add the technology to all Super Stallions, which he said would help aviators glean useful information about weather, terrain and decision-making. But he said the Marines told him that doing so would be too expensive. 'You're putting a price tag on a service member's life,' Langen said. 'For me, as a dad and a Marine who did this job, it really hurts. That hurts on a level that it's hard to put into words.' In a statement to NBC News on Friday, a Marine spokesperson confirmed that upgrading the Super Stallions with the technology is 'cost-prohibitive' due to the remaining service life of the aircraft. The Marines have been using the powerful Super Stallions to transport heavy equipment, supplies and troops for more than 30 years, according to the Navy, which the Marine Corps is part of. It will cost nearly $72 million to replace the Super Stallion destroyed in the crash, according to the investigation report. 'The investigation team for this mishap worked exhaustively, thoroughly evaluating possible scenarios and simulations to draw conclusions from the available data and analysis,' the spokesperson for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said. However, the newest variant of Marine Corps helicopters, called the CH-53K King Stallion, is equipped with a crash survivable flight data recorder with voice recording capability, and is expected to replace the old Super Stallion fleet by fiscal year 2032, a spokesperson said. And the Marines announced in July 2023 that they would begin integrating a crash survivable, high-temperature, fire-resistant flight data recorder into all of its MV-22B Ospreys after another fatal incident. The father's push to update antiquated federal technology comes after a string of aviation disasters this year, including the deadliest U.S. air crash in almost a quarter century. On Jan. 29, an Army Black Hawk collided into a commercial airplane midair near Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people aboard both the plane and helicopter. The Army helicopter had a black box, which officials said they had recovered in good condition. During that investigation, Langen said, 'there were lots of questions that were answered.' Investigators were able to thoroughly brief reporters with what they had and what they were still looking into less than a month after the disaster. 'We're never gonna have that,' Langen said. Nationwide, amid close calls and equipment malfunctions, worried pilots and air traffic controllers are also imploring the Federal Aviation Administration to fix its aging infrastructure. The call for change follows scrutiny of the Super Stallion over repeated mechanical failures. In 2014, a Super Stallion carrying 25 service members crashed due to the catastrophic failure of one of its engines, although all the passengers survived. Four years later, four Marines were killed when their Super Stallion crashed during a training mission in Southern California. A Marine investigation found the 2018 crash was caused by a defective part, according to a lawsuit filed by the families of the Marines against the supplier and manufacturer of the part. The case was settled, and the settlement was confidential, according to Dave Casey, the San Diego attorney representing the pilots. The February 2024 crash that killed Langen's son was not a result of a material or mechanical failure of any component on the aircraft, investigators said, although they said the helicopter's engine caution light erroneously turned on earlier in the day due to a frayed wire. Investigators made some recommendations to Marine leadership, including clarifying vague language in protocols and determining how best to discipline the squadron's commanding officer for authorizing the flight, but they did not address the lack of data that hindered its investigation. 'As a parent, you want to know what happened,' Langen said. The five members of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 took off from Imperial County Airport, where they refueled from an earlier flight to Nevada, and headed home to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego shortly after 10 p.m. on Feb. 6, 2024, according to the investigation report. There were three pilots on board: Capt. Miguel Nava, 28; Capt. Benjamin Moulton, 27; and Capt. Jack Casey, 26. Also on board was Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, 21, who was recently promoted. Sgt. Alec Langen, 23, was the crew chief, responsible for the safety of passengers and other cargo, as well as in-flight maintenance. He had just gotten married about a month before, his father said. And Nava, of Traverse City, Michigan, had just become a father, welcoming a baby boy with his wife about four months prior, his family told NBC News. About 30 minutes into their flight, they all crashed into a mountain ridge near Pine Valley, California. It took search-and-rescue teams about 10 hours to find their bodies in a remote area covered in snow. At least two of them were killed instantly, and one was completely unrecognizable, found in a burning pool of jet fuel, the report said. 'The hardest part to read was that the five of them laid there until 8 in the morning,' Langen said. Deteriorating weather conditions should have signaled to the crew that it was not feasible to fly safely, investigators said, but they could not 'pinpoint one explanation' for why they took off. In the immediate aftermath of the crash, Davis' father said the family was 'struggling to understand the operational necessity for flying into one of the worst storms in Southern California history.' Gregory Davis had asked the Defense Department to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances behind the decisions that led to the crash 'so that we may have some understanding and closure for the seemingly senseless loss of our son and brother.' In November 2024, the team's commanding officer was fired after officials determined he 'exhibited poor judgment' and 'exceeded his authority' in approving the flight, according to the report. Investigators said he should have taken more than just two minutes to speak with the pilot about weather conditions and their planned route, and that he should have sought flight approval from a higher-up, but they did not blame him for the crash. Langen said he and his wife 'never wanted any fingers to be pointed.' They just wanted answers for why they no longer had their 'larger than life' son, who towered over most people at 6-foot-5, always had a smile, and followed in his veteran dad's footsteps. To find more clarity, Langen said he studied autopsy reports and the 1,140-page investigation report, which was heavily redacted at times. He also examined the gut-wrenching photos of the accident and visited the crash site. That only yielded more heartbreak. Instead, Langen laid his son to rest without knowing what happened in his final moments. The family held his funeral at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, where officials briefly shut down the airspace to honor a man who had served for seven years and planned to make a career as a Marine, Langen said. When he died, Alec Langen was just three weeks shy of being transferred to a safer job, his father said. This article was originally published on
Epoch Times
09-05-2025
- General
- Epoch Times
Marine Corps Report Cites Pilot Error in Helicopter Crash That Killed 5 in California
Pilot error was the root cause of a military helicopter crash near Pine Valley, California, last year that claimed the lives of five U.S. Marines, an investigation has found. The CH-53E Super Stallion, callsign 'TIGER 43,' was conducting a routine flight from Imperial County Airfield to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar when it crashed into a mountain ridge on Feb. 6, 2024. U.S. Marine Corps investigators found that the pilots failed to maintain safe obstacle clearance and did not adhere to visual flight rules visibility requirements, likely due to spatial disorientation caused by challenging environmental conditions, according to a May 7 Corps The investigators confirmed there was no evidence of material or mechanical failure in the helicopter. The five Marines lost in the crash were Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, Sgt. Alec Langen, Capt. Benjamin Moulton, Capt. Jack Casey, and Capt. Miguel Nava, all members of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. (Top L–R) Capt. Jack Casey, Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, and Sgt. Alec Langen. (Bottom L–R) Capt. Benjamin Moulton and Capt. Miguel Nava. Marine Corps via AP The helicopter disappeared late on Feb. 6, 2024, during a storm, and its wreckage was found the next morning near Pine Valley. Recovery efforts were disturbed by rough terrain and severe weather, and Marines stayed with the fallen until their bodies could be recovered, in keeping with the Marine Corps' tradition of never leaving a Marine behind. Related Stories 5/7/2025 5/6/2025 'We have been confronted with a tragedy that is every service family's worst fear,' Lt. Col. Nicholas J. Harvey, commanding officer of the squadron, said at the time of the accident. 'The Flying Tigers family stands strong and includes the friends and community who have supported our squadron during this challenging time. We will get through this together.' The May 7 statement said the investigation faced some limitations, including the inability to access certain onboard flight data and obtain exact real-time weather information. Investigators used available data and simulations to reconstruct the events leading to the crash. Following a review of the investigation, the commanding general of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing relieved the HMH-361 commanding officer of command on Nov. 18, 2024, citing a loss of trust and confidence. While the officer's actions were not found to be a direct cause of the crash, the commanding general determined that he had demonstrated poor judgment and should have exercised greater care in his duties, according to the investigation report. In response to the findings, the Marine Corps has implemented multiple changes to policy and training across the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The Corps also extended gratitude to the first responders and investigative teams involved in the aftermath and investigation of the crash. From
USA Today
08-05-2025
- General
- USA Today
Investigators release report on cause of helicopter crash that killed 5 Marines
Investigators release report on cause of helicopter crash that killed 5 Marines Show Caption Hide Caption Pilot error cited as cause of military helicopter crash A report says weather and the use of night vision goggles were among the reasons for a deadly Marine helicopter crash. Fox - 10 Phoenix More than a year after five U.S. Marines were killed when a helicopter crashed into a Southern California mountain range, investigators say the cause of the mishap was "pilot error." The fatal crash occurred on Feb. 6, 2024, as the service members were returning to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego following a training mission at Nevada's Creech Air Force Base, northwest of Las Vegas. The CH-53E Super Stallion was reported missing before authorities discovered it had crashed into a mountain near Pine Valley, California. The crash killed five Marines including Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, 21; Sgt. Alec Langen, 23; Capt. Benjamin Moulton, 27; Capt. Jack Casey, 26; and Capt. Miguel Nava, 28. The more than 1,100 page report released by the Marine Corps found the root cause of the mishap was the pilot's "failure to maintain both a safe obstacle clearance and Visual Flight Rules (VFR) visibility requirements, resulting in a fatal controlled flight into terrain." As the helicopter was returning to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, it had to make an emergency landing at Imperial County Airport, about 120 miles east of the chopper's final destination in San Diego. Before taking off again, the helicopter's pilot received permission from the squadron's commanding officer to make the "one shot" return flight. Investigators say the weather conditions on the route from the county airport to the air station, including moderate icy conditions and cloud layers, also presented a safety risk. "These deteriorating weather conditions should have been a signal to the mishap crew of Tiger 43 that a safe transit from Imperial County Airport to MCAS Miramar was not feasible," the report said. And while investigators say the commanding officer's approval of the return flight was not a "direct causal or contributing factor in this mishap," they determined the officer exceeded his authority as the approval of a nighttime flight after emergency maintenance lies with a higher authority. The squadron's commanding officer also should have taken more time to speak with pilot about the "aircraft issue and discuss a more thorough plan to return home, including weather conditions, planned route of flight, crew day, and fatigue level and human factors," investigators determined. In November, the squadron's commanding officer, who approved the return flight, was relieved of command "due to loss of trust and confidence in his ability to continue serving," the report said. A memo from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing included in the report said "the Marine Corps aviation community will utilize the findings and recommendations of this investigation to make us better in both practice and execution."
NBC News
08-05-2025
- General
- NBC News
Deadly Marine helicopter crash in San Diego's East County deemed ‘pilot error'
More than one year later, the official investigation into the cause of the military helicopter crash that killed five Marines is complete. It happened on Feb. 6, 2024, during the CH-53E Super Stallion's return flight to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, where all of the Marines were based. The servicemen were identified as: Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, 21, of Olathe, Kansas, a CH-53E helicopter crew chief Sgt. Alec Langen, 23, of Chandler, Arizona, a CH-53E helicopter crew chief Capt. Benjamin Moulton, 27, of Emmett, Idaho, a CH-53E helicopter pilot Capt. Jack Casey, 26, of Dover, New Hampshire, a CH-53E helicopter pilot Capt. Miguel Nava, 28, of Traverse City, Michigan, a CH-53E helicopter pilot The 1,140-page investigation was released more than one year later on Wednesday. According to the redacted version, released to the public, the crash was deemed 'pilot error, which included the mishap pilot's failure to maintain both a safe obstacle clearance and Visual Flight Rules (VFR) visibility requirements, resulting in a fatal controlled flight into terrain,' read the report. The report continued, 'the investigation identified several additional contributing factors, including the presence of moderate icing conditions and cloud layers along the mishap route that prevented a safe transit above factor terrain. The investigation further determined these deteriorating weather conditions should have been a signal to the mishap crew of TIGER 43 that a safe transit from Imperial County Airport was not feasible, despite the earlier forecasted and observed weather report that supported TIGER 43's initial departure from Creech Air Force Base to Imperial County.' As mentioned above, the investigation revealed that the TIGER 43 crew, part of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW), had a training flight before leaving Creech Air Force Base to head back to their home base. They had a planned stop at the Imperial County Airport for fuel, but it turned into a nighttime precautionary emergency landing (PEL) after receiving warning signs about one of their engines. There was some discrepancy in the investigation on whether or not this was communicated adequately. However, the issue was resolved, then, according to the report, the pilot called the squadron's commanding officer to approve their flight back to Miramar. It was approved, but 'the squadron CO exceeded his authority by approving the mishap flight,' and the investigators determined that it should have been elevated. That commanding officer was later relieved on Nov. 18 'due to a loss of trust and confidence in his ability to continue to serve,' according to a media release sent to NBC 7 from 3rd MAW. The Super Stallion crew was eventually reported overdue at Miramar and last 'heard of at 2330' or 11:30 p.m., according to dispatch records. The next day multiple agencies, both federal and local, responded to their last known location in the Pine Valley area to try to find the helicopter and the Marines. Unfortunately, all five Marines were later found dead and were protected by fellow Marines until investigators arrived, including 23-year-old Sgt. Alec Langen. 'Probably the most difficult part was reading from the time it went down to the time that they found everybody,' Steve Langen, Alec's dad who also has experience as a Marine on the CH-53E, told NBC 7. 'What happened? Were they over task-saturated? Were they tired?' Steve Langen explained he and his wife, Alec's mom, were briefed in person a few weeks ago by Marines who shared the full, unredacted investigative conclusion with them, as is standard policy. He explained they 'never wanted there to be a family to have to live with [the responsibility]' of knowing one person on the aircraft may have been to blame for the tragedy. 'As a parent, you want to believe that they all made the decision together,' Steve Langen said. Despite the entire length of the investigation, those final moments before the helicopter crashed into the mountain ridge will never be fully understood. 'A few limitations presented during the investigative process, including the inaccessibility of certain on-board flight data and exact real-time weather. The investigative team thoroughly evaluated possible scenarios and simulations to draw conclusions from the available data and analysis,' read the 3rd MAW media release announcing the completed report. That is exactly what needs to change, Steve Langen told NBC 7. He said he wants to see voice recorders added to the cockpit of military aircraft so that other families do not need to be left with lingering questions if the unthinkable happens. 'Were they having a discussion? Did one guy override the other one? Was Alec saying let's turn around or was Alec saying let's go?' Steve Langen said. A spokesperson for 3rd MAW explained that incorporating crash-survivable recorders into the CH-53E would be too costly, given their limited remaining service life in the Marine Corps. 'No, it's not going to bring him back. No, it's not going to give us full closure from it, but there has to be some change,' Steve Langen said. The media release from 3rd MAW added that 'multiple recommendations were implemented to police and training across 3rd MAW in response to the investigation.'
Winnipeg Free Press
07-05-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Weather and night vision goggles were likely factors in Marine Corps helicopter crash, report finds
WASHINGTON (AP) — The crash of a Marine Corps helicopter last year that killed five service members was ultimately caused by pilot error, but the use of night vision goggles and unsafe flying conditions also likely were factors, according to an investigation report obtained by The Associated Press. The CH-53 Super Stallion crashed Feb. 6, 2024, during a late night flight when it hit a mountain near Pine Valley, California, on its way back to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Investigators found that multiple factors likely led to the crash. But as with several previous military aviation accidents, investigators had to make some assumptions because the CH-53 was not equipped with a flight data recorder capable of surviving a crash. FILE - A Marine CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter flies during training at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, Feb. 6, 2024. A Marine Corps helicopter, like the one pictured, that crashed of last year and that killed five service members, was ultimately caused by pilot error, but the use of night vision goggles and unsafe flying conditions also likely were factors. That's according to a crash investigation report obtained by The Associated Press. (K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP, file) The limits of night vision goggles also have been identified as a potential factor in the fatal collision of an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger jet near Reagan Washington National Airport in January that killed 67 people. The goggles can reduce a pilot's ability to determine distance and can be degraded by weather or light pollution. The Marine helicopter was flying in icing conditions with low cloud cover that obscured the mountainous terrain along the flight path. The crew was using night vision goggles, which likely did not give them the clear picture needed to avoid a crash into terrain, investigators found. The precipitation and clouds probably degraded the goggles' performance and possibly gave the crew a false sense that they were maintaining the safe distances needed in the flight, investigators found. Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Sign up for The Warm-Up The pilot and crew chief 'most likely believed they were operating legally and within their comfort level,' investigators found. Ultimately, though, investigators found that the pilot's failure to avoid the terrain was the primary cause of the crash. They also found that the commanding officer, who was relieved of duty due to a loss of confidence in an ability to lead, should not have given the crew approval to fly. The Super Stallion vanished during the overnight flight on its way back to Miramar from Creech Air Force Base. The helicopter was discovered in the morning near the mountain community of Pine Valley. All five Marines aboard were killed in the crash: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, 21, of Olathe, Kansas; Sgt. Alec Langen, 23, of Chandler, Arizona; Capt. Miguel Nava, 28, of Traverse City, Michigan; Capt. Jack Casey, 26, of Dover, New Hampshire; and Capt. Benjamin Moulton, 27, of Emmett, Idaho In interviews contained in the report, multiple members of the squadron said that the crews had been stretched thin because their unit had to fly additional missions to compensate for last year's monthslong grounding of the V-22 Osprey fleet.
