Mechanical failure of a T-38C’s right aileron led to the aircraft’s crash during a training mission April 23 at Columbus AFB, Miss., killing its two pilots, Air Education and Training Command said in a release Aug. 7. The findings of the mishap’s investigation show that the aileron failed in the full down position before takeoff. Maj. Blair Faulkner, a 43rd Flying Training Squadron instructor pilot, and 2nd Lt. Matthew Emmons, a student pilot assigned to the 50th Flying Training Squadron, were taking off when the T-38 began an uncommanded roll to the left from which they were never able to fully recover. Although they ejected, they were too low and the aircraft was inverted, causing both to perish on impact with the ground. Just last week, Air Force investigators identified pilot error as the cause of a T-38C crash that took place at Sheppard AFB, Tex., on May 1.
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department will actually disclose.