This Day in History: 2020-12-08

Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet A44-223 of No. 1 Squadron crashed on take-off from RAAF Base Amberely, Queensland on 8 December 2020. The aircraft was taking off along with seven other aircraft when the pilot was distracted and veered off the runway. As a consequence, the aircrew both ejected while the aircraft ran off the runway where it came to a halt. Images taken by bystanders and published by Australian media outlets show the Super Hornet with a collapsed nose gear in the grass beside the tarmac. The aircraft was repaired for a cost of approximately $1.5 million and returned to service. Initial reports suggested that on of the aircraft’s two engines had failed. A partially redacted investigation report by the Defence Flight Safety Bureau (DFSB) was released by Senator Rex Patrick in June 2022, finding that the pilot had been distracted by cockpit warning lights during take-off and the jet veered off the runway. The report stated “substandard adherence to checklist actions prior to the aircraft lining up resulted in a ‘master caution’ and ‘check trim’ message on the left digital display indicator as the throttles were advanced into afterburner for takeoff”. “During the takeoff roll, the check trim [indicator] caution distracted the pilot from prioritizing focus on directional control, resulting in the aircraft’s deviation in heading to go unnoticed/uncorrected for several seconds.” Sources: ADF-Serials; https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-08/super-hornet-crash-raaf-amberley-air-base/12962426; https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-08/pilot-error-caused-raaf-super-hornet-eject/101131502