HAMPTON, Va. (AP) – An Air Force investigation says a Predator drone crashed into a runway on a Nevada base because of a low-level wind shear and pilot error.
Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, released its accident investigation report on Tuesday.
The Predator crashed at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, on April 4 during a routine launch and recovery training mission. The report says the aircraft bounced on the runway until its landing gear was destroyed. The report says the pilot used the wrong recovery technique for the drone after it experienced a loss of lift due to the wind shear.
The Air Force says the drone was significantly damaged, with a repair cost estimate of $4.5 million. There were no injuries.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.
