Marine flights suspended after 6th crash

March 27, 1996
Web posted at: 12:45 a.m. EST

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. Marine Corps has ordered all "non-essential flight operations" halted for the next two days. The announcement came after the sixth crash of a Marine Corps aircraft in as many weeks, and the ninth this year.

The crashes have included three AV-8 Harrier "Jump-Jets," an F/A-18D fighter jet, a Cobra attack helicopter and a CH-46 transport helicopter. The pilot of the Harrier jet that crashed on Monday ejected safely, and suffered only minor scrapes and bruises. However, five crew members have died in the five previous crashes.

The order to stand down came from Gen. Charles Krulak, the U.S. Marine Corps commandant, who said in a written statement it was an "attempt to identify and correct any discrepancies that may put Marine air crews and aircraft at unnecessary risk." He said there was not yet any common cause apparent in the crashes.

The stand down is to take effect at all Marine Corps locations "no later than" midnight Tuesday and will last 48 hours. It affects both planes, including the Harriers, FA-18 Hornet fighters, EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare planes, KC- 130 refueling aircraft, and helicopters, including the CH-46 Sea Knights, CH-53 Super Stallions, AH-1 Super Cobras, and UH-1 Hueys.

Essential operations were exempted from the grounding, including patrols over Bosnia participating in the NATO peacekeeping mission.

The most recent crashes that led to the flight operations halt:

• February 16, 1996: AV-8 Harrier crashed at Cherry Point, North Carolina; one fatality.
• February 29, 1996: AV-8 Harrier crashed at Chocolate Mountain, California; no fatalities.
• March 1, 1996: Cobra Attack helicopter crashed near Columbus, Georgia; two fatalities.
• March 7, 1996: F/A-18D Hornet fighter jet crashed off the coast of South Carolina; two fatalities.
• March 19, 1996: CH-46E transport helicopter crashed near Yuma, Arizona; no fatalities.
• March 25, 1996: AV-8 Harrier crashed, again near Yuma, with no fatalities.

The Harrier, a vertical take-off jet, has the worst crash record of all U.S. military planes.

Related stories:

• Navy orders all F14s to stop flying after another crash
• Navy jet crashes off California coast; 1 killed
• Navy grounds Pacific fleet war planes
• $30 million F-16 fighter jet crashes
• Marine chief grounds aircraft for review

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