Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Strike one more P-3

Yikes! The wages of Transformationalism strikes again.

Remember that little post last month about the spiking P-3 accident rate and the reasons P-3 Spy told us about?


Well, it looks like we may have another data point to look at. We don't know the details; but going off the runway, catching fire, and losing one of a limited number of dwindling assets doesn't happen by accident.
A U.S. navy patrol plane was destroyed Tuesday when it overshot the runway while landing at a base north of the Afghan capital, but none of the crew was seriously hurt, the U.S. military said.

"A Navy P-3 Orion airplane overshot the runway surface while landing at Bagram Air Field. The airplane sustained serious structural and fire damage," a military statement said. One crew member suffered a broken ankle.

The incident was under investigation, it said.

Bagram is the largest U.S. military base in Afghanistan, located just north of Kabul.

The P-3 Orion is a patrol aircraft used primarily for maritime patrol, reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare.
No subs in the middle of Central Asia - but there are other things to gainfully employ yourself with. Nuff said.

The most important thing is, besides a broken ankle - all our Shipmates made it out. The question is; did he break the ankle jumping out of the aircraft, or from pressing down too hard on the brakes?