Blackhawk pilots blamed for deadly crash
The deaths of 11 servicemembers in a Blackhawk helicopter crash last March was blamed on the pilots by a joint investigation by the Louisiana National Guard and Special Operations Command. Apparently weather conditions for the training missions had deteriorated beyond the minimum safety standards according to the Associated Press;
Both crews “disobeyed a direct order … by choosing to fly in lower then (sic) briefed weather minimums.”
The report went on to fault the lead pilot, Chief Warrant Officer George Wayne Griffin Jr., 37, of Hammond, Louisiana, for pushing ahead with the mission even though weather was worsening March 10.
According to the report, the training was supposed to take place only if cloud cover was no lower than 1,000 feet and visibility was 3 miles. Conditions were worse, with cloud cover as low at 200 feet.
Fog began to set in about 40 minutes before the helicopters took off at 8:16 p.m., according to testimony. The same service member told investigators that Griffin dismissed concerns from members on boats where the training was to take place.
Records show that the National Guard felt that Griffin was a top-notch veteran pilot fully capable of doing the training.
“No one spoke up and questioned the wisdom to conduct the mission,” the report said.
Category: Marine Corps
This event saddened many in my area. Friends of mine, active duty combat divers, were part of the aircraft and body recovery exercise. It hit deeply here, in this SPECOP intense area.
Those of us who were “out and about” that night knew of the fog and wondered amongst ourselves why the mission continued.
Body recovery under those circumstances is necessary but not fun. Condolences.
If someone had spoken up… 11 servicemembers would probably be alive today and their families would not be grieving over their loss.
Did the pilots survive the crash? Seems to me there should have been more supervision involved than just an AC who should have cancelled the mission. Regardless, General Court Marshals for all would seem to be appropriate.
CM, I’m not positive but if I recall correctly there were no survivors of the crash.
“If only—–“;”Why didn’t——“. Cut the stuff, folks. Mistakes were made, good folks died. Learn from it. Get the word out; train hard and well. Requiescat In Pace for those who died and those that worked at recovering them. Peace to those who are still here. Semper Fi.
+1.