Crashed Air Force jet may have hit power cables

[snoop1130]

Crashed Air Force jet may have hit power cables

By Somjit Rungjamrasrassamee, 
Jitraporn Senwong 
The Nation

 

 

The initial probe into the crash of a military training jet on a golf course near Bhumibol Dam in Tak province on Tuesday afternoon shows the aircraft may have hit power lines in the mountainous area, a military source said on Wednesday.

 

Although the two pilots managed to eject seconds before the Aero L-39 ZA/ART aircraft nosedived and burst into flames, only Group Captain Jirasak Ngamwongsri survived, though with serious injuries. Co-pilot Squadron Leader Krerkkiat Suwanno was killed after his parachute failed to open in time.

 

The 310th Military Circle commander, Maj-General Narat Singprapaporn, and Tak police chief Pol Maj-General Parinya.

 

 Wisitthakul visited the injured Jirasak at Sam Ngao Hospital before he was transferred for further treatment at a Chiang Mai hospital. Meanwhile, Krerkkiat’s body was transported to Bangkok at 12.30am.

 

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan have ordered authorities to thoroughly probe the crash and take care of the pilots’ families, said Air Force Commander-in-Chief Jom Rungsawang who declined to comment on the cause of the crash. He insisted that although 38 of the L-39 trainer jets, which had been in service for over two decades, had been decommissioned, 12 still in service were useable and well maintained. He said the jets were inspected before each flight. 

 

“I can confirm that the aircraft are in good condition and the pilots are able to use them for training flights. ... No one wants this kind of incident to happen. I feel sorry about this and offer my condolences to the family of the deceased officer, for whom the Thai public should also mourn because of his sacrifice,” Jom said.

 

The Air Force last month commissioned four South Korean-made T-50 TH trainer jets to replace the L-39s of Air Wing 401, based at the Takhli airbase in Nakhon Sawan province. Eight more T-50 TH jets are set to be delivered in October or November next year.

 

The L-39 trainer jets currently in service would be moved to Air Wing 41 in Chiang Mai for use until their operational period ends, he said. 

 

Later in the afternoon, Jom presided over a ceremony to receive Krerkkiat’s body at the Don Mueang Military Airport. 

 

Jom also said Krerkkiat would be posthumously promoted to Air Marshal and receive the royal decoration of Knight Commander (Second Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand. Krerkkiat’s family will receive Bt2.9 million in compensation for an officer killed on duty and a special pension of Bt34,000 a month. 

 

The Air Force will host Krerkkiat’s funeral prayers until May 30 at Wat Phrasri Mahathat in Bang Khen before a royally sponsored cremation.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30346114

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-5-23

[shady86]

Bill Gates must be pleased his critism was correct.

[poohy]

Yes , that would do it!

 

Experienced pilots  tend not to do that though

[Norrad]

1 hour ago, poohy said:

Yes , that would do it!

 

Experienced pilots  tend not to do that though

Nothing to do with experience. Cables are a huge danger because they are nearly invisible. When you are doing low flying OPs you check the NOTAMs carefully to see where the cables are. Only problem is that power/telecom companies sometimes don't inform the Aviation Authorities when they put up new cables and you have to rely on other aviators reporting them which is sketchy at best. It would make sense if they hit cables, because like I said the Albatross has a decent glide ratio and I've managed to do practice forced landings in it. An experienced crew would have identified a landing zone early on or ejected. Hitting power cables would mean sudden loss of control and minimal time to react.

[Enoon]

 

Put together yesterdays quote: "and was passing over Tak to join others at the Wing 41 Base in Chiang Mai"

 

With todays: "The L-39 trainer jets currently in service would be moved to Air Wing 41 in Chiang Mai for use until their operational period ends"

 

And you have:  Part of final (delivery) flights for one team or..... acceptance (and delivery) flights for a new one.

 

Either way it is unlikely that this was any more than a delivery flight and no low flying was specified or required.

 

I would question how rigorously this flight was planned or if an original plan, ensuring adequate terrain/obstacle clearance, was adhered to.

 

Somebody got it wrong........and I don't think it was the electricity company.

 

 

[ChrisY1]

So not a fault of the 40 year old aircraft then?

[tigermoth]

Pilots involved in a training exercice or any other flying should not be flying low enough to hit power lines. 500 feet altitude is the minimum height above terrain for any flying whether training or otherwise. Even in a real combat situation there is no reason to go lower than 500 feet.

So many times military helicopters fly over Bangkok at dangerously low levels. 1500 feet is the minimum altitude over any built up area. There are many construction sites in Bangkok and at times the construction cranes are not always showing a light at the apex of the jib. It will be not to long before one of the recklessly piloted choppers flies into one of them.

[Belzybob]

A bit of low flying down the valley perhaps?

[Srikcir]

12 hours ago, Norrad said:

Cables are a huge danger because they are nearly invisible.

Who would know that there are high voltage power lines at and in the vicinity of the Bhumibol Dam that generates hydroelectric energy.

 

[ChiangMaiLightning2143]

If they hit power lines it is pilot error.

 

American jet hit a cable car in Italy and killed dozens of people years ago.

 

[overherebc]

Not something I've ever looked for so maybe they are or aren't there.

Common in uk I know.

They also have Balisors??? that glow at night from the power in the cable.

Powerline-aerial-marker-balls.webp

[AsiaHand]

14 hours ago, poohy said:

Yes , that would do it!

 

Experienced pilots  tend not to do that though

There are "Old Pilots" and "Bold Pilots" but there are no "Old Bold Pilots"

[AsiaHand]

44 minutes ago, ChiangMaiLightning2143 said:

If they hit power lines it is pilot error.

 

American jet hit a cable car in Italy and killed dozens of people years ago.

 

That US Marine pilot was ( illegally) buzzing the area (He was 640 feet below minim)in a Grumman  6A-6 a very slow jet.The victims ( 20 killed) later received $2,000,000.00 each

[Norrad]

If you do a simple Google search you will see that loads of aircraft hit power cables every year, military and civilian. All over the world in first and third world countries. It's even more dangerous for helicopter pilots as they often work at low altitudes. Some power cables can be extremely high up, when strung off a side off a mountain for example.

Before blaming the pilots it's possible that they included other training during the transport flight. Visual low level navigation as an example. Terrain following exercises maybe.

[Psimbo]

5 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

So not a fault of the 40 year old aircraft then?

A '40 year old aircraft' that has been extensively refurbished by the Israelis?

 

See the separate article about the F-5 refurbishment.

 

I could also refer you to non-Thai B-52s, Tornados, F 15, F16, F18.........................................................

[Penicillin]

1 hour ago, AsiaHand said:

There are "Old Pilots" and "Bold Pilots" but there are no "Old Bold Pilots"

Yes there are . 

[Norrad]

2 hours ago, AsiaHand said:

There are "Old Pilots" and "Bold Pilots" but there are no "Old Bold Pilots"

Bob Hoover might disagree...

 

 

[AsiaHand]

10 hours ago, Psimbo said:

A '40 year old aircraft' that has been extensively refurbished by the Israelis?

 

See the separate article about the F-5 refurbishment.

 

I could also refer you to non-Thai B-52s, Tornados, F 15, F16, F18.........................................................

The B52 is only about 65 years old, and like "The Energizing Bunny" Still Going.

[Norrad]

4 minutes ago, AsiaHand said:

The B52 is only about 65 years old, and like "The Energizing Bunny" Still Going.

Plus its planned 90 year life-cycle is just plain crazy. Imagine grandfathers, fathers, children and grandchildren could theoretically fly the exact same plane in military service.