Fighter involved in 2023 ‘mishap’ was lost for 28 hours
By Mike McCombs
The Island News
The September 2023 crash of an MCAS Beaufort-based F-35B that was missing for roughly 28 hours after the pilot ejected has been attributed to “pilot error” after a year-long investigation, according to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW).
In the Sept. 17, 2023 crash labeled a “mishap” by the Marines, a pair of F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 501, 2nd MAW were flying over North Charleston in the vicinity of Joint Base Charleston, when at about 1:30 p.m., one pilot was forced to eject. The pilot landed safely in North Charleston and was transported to a local medical facility.
The second pilot landed at Joint Base Charleston, while the first plane, without a pilot and with autopilot reportedly engaged, continued to fly.
“We don’t know anything about the plane,” a Joint Base Charleston spokesperson told The Island News that evening by phone.
According to the 2nd MAW, the pilot safely ejected “while attempting to execute a climbout during a missed approach in instrument meteorological conditions and heavy precipitation.”
The aircraft continued to fly unmanned for 11 minutes and 21 seconds before impacting in a rural area approximately 64 nautical miles northeast of Joint Base Charleston in Williamsburg County. At some point, Joint Base Charleston was unable to track the fighter.
“The Marine Corps thoroughly investigates all mishaps to identify the causes, learn from them, and take action to reduce the chances of future mishaps. The investigation concluded that the mishap occurred due to pilot error,” according to the 2nd MAW. “The pilot incorrectly diagnosed an out-of-controlled flight emergency and ejected from a flyable aircraft, albeit during a heavy rainstorm compounded with aircraft electrical and display malfunctions.
While the investigation, completed by the 2nd MAW investigating officer and endorsed by the commanding general of 2nd MAW, concludes the “mishap” occurred due to “pilot error,” there were clearly mitigating circumstances.
According to the 2nd MAW, contributing factors included “an electrical event during flight, which induced failures of both primary radios, the transponder, the tactical air navigation system, and the instrument landing system; and the probability that the helmet-mounted display and panoramic cockpit display were not operational for at least three distinct periods.” This investigation concedes that this likely caused the pilot to become disoriented in “challenging instrument and meteorological conditions.”
According to the 2nd MAW, the electrical malfunction was not related to any maintenance issues.
“All preventative, scheduled, and unscheduled maintenance conducted on the aircraft was correct and in keeping with established standards,” according to the 2nd MAW.
The name of the pilot, who according to the 2nd MAW “was qualified and current to conduct the scheduled flight” was redacted from the investigation report, but Military.com has identified him as Col. Charles “Tre” Del Pizzo, a Marine aviator with 27 years of active service, six deployments and more than 3,000 flight hours on his resume.
According to Military.com’s story which you can read at https://bit.ly/4ffTAXU, Del Pizzo fractured two vertebrae in the incident. After he was cleared to fly, he was given command of Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One (VMX-1) out of Yuma, Ariz.
While the 2nd MAW news release said there were no punitive actions recommended, Del Pizzo was relieved of his command by Commandant Gen. Eric Smith just three months later when the investigation was concluded.
The investigation report says the aircraft’s extended unmanned flight was “due to stability provided by the F-35’s advanced automatic flight-control systems.” And the report blames the loss of radar contact with the aircraft resulted from a “failed transponder caused by the electrical malfunction and the aircraft’s eventual descent below the air-traffic control radar horizon,” as well as its “low-observable technology.”
The crash site was not located until approximately 4:45 p.m., Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, nearly 28 hours after the “mishap.”
The F-35s involved in the Sept. 17, 2023 mishap were with the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 501 of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and based at MCAS Beaufort. They were carrying no live weapons when the mishap occurred.
The F-35 is manufactured by Lockheed-Martin and cost between $80 million and $100 apiece. This was the second crash of an F-35 based at MCAS Beaufort.
On Sept. 28, 2018, a pilot ejected safely from an F-35 Lightning II with VMFAT 501 before it crashed on uninhabited Little Barnwell Island.
The crash was attributed to a defective fuel tube. The Marines’ entire fleet of F-35s was grounded until it could be inspected and the defective parts eliminated.
To read the complete investigation report, go to https://bit.ly/3YCUHd3.
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
