Preliminary investigations into the crash of two F-5 aircraft during a nighttime tactical reconnaissance training operation on Sept. 13 have ruled out mechanical failure, the air force’s Political Warfare Department Director Pan Kung-hsiao (潘恭孝) said yesterday.
Captain Hsiao Wen-min (蕭文民), who was piloting the F-5F, and Lieutenant Colonel Chang Chien-kuo (常建國) and Major Wang Hung-hsiang (王鴻祥), who were onboard the RF-5E from the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing, went down near Dongao Mountain (東澳山) in Suao Township (蘇澳), Yilan County, soon after takeoff.
During a public memorial service yesterday morning, Pan told reporters that the cause of the accidents was still being investigated, with the investigation team looking at all the possible angles, including terrain, mechanical and human factors.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
“With regards to terrain, as it was a nighttime training exercise, we are trying to determine if there might have been a misreading of the equipment, though this has not been proven,” Pan said.
“All three pilots were qualified to lead,” Pan said.
The two aircraft had passed weekly inspections and preliminary investigations have ruled out mechanical failure as a cause of the twin crashes, Pan said.
Investigators are expected to complete gathering data within 45 days and will then look into what caused the crashes, Pan said, adding it was likely that more than one factor led to the incident.
The air force does not want a repeat of the incident and it was closely scrutinizing every piece of data, Pan said.
The air force, the Civil Aeronautics Administration and the Aviation Safety Council are working jointly in the investigation, Pan said, adding that the air force’s fleet of F-5s, which was grounded after the crashes, had resumed flying.
The families of the deceased officers would receive state compensation, Pan said.
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