Pilot Error Blamed for 2 Marine Copter Crashes Last Fall : Accidents of Tustin-Based CH-46E Helicopters Killed 5

Pilot error was blamed for two helicopter crashes last fall that killed five Marines, including four Tustin-based air crewmen, Marine Corps investigators have concluded in reports on the accidents released as a result of a Freedom of Information request.

Both crashes occurred near Camp Pendleton and involved CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters based at the Tustin Marine Corps Air Station.

The first report concluded that further analysis may be needed to revise safety procedures for pilots flying in low-visibility conditions. But while it noted that the pilot and crew of the aircraft may have relied too much on night vision goggles, the report concluded that there was no need for a change in training or operations with regard to the use of the goggles.

The second report recommended that the pilot in that crash be grounded.

Reports Made Public

The reports were made public after they were obtained this week by the San Diego Union, which requested them under the Freedom of Information Act.

The first incident occurred Sept. 3, when a Sea Knight pilot flew into a blanket of clouds and crashed into a mountain in a remote area of Camp Pendleton in San Diego County. The aircraft burst into flames and all four aboard were killed.

According to the report, the section leader of that night mission--who was piloting a second helicopter and followed the craft that crashed--may, in retrospect, have been able to provide some assistance to the less-experienced pilot flying the first aircraft.

However, the cause of the crash was still attributed to the pilot, 1st Lt. Chris Robin Toburen of Pittsburg, Kan. Others killed in that crash were 1st Lt. Scott R. Hiester, 27, of Robesonia, Pa.; 1st Lt. Christopher A. Tanner, 27, of Malvern, Ark., and Lance Cpl. Todd B. Kershner, 20, of Lomax, Ill.

“The causes of the mishap are shared between the mishap crew and the section leader (pilot of trailing aircraft),” the report states. “The section leader’s ability, however, cannot be elevated to the cause of the crash; the responsibility must remain with the pilot of the aircraft.”

No Disciplinary Action

The report concluded that no disciplinary action against the second pilot was necessary. However, it recommended further analysis of missions conducted under low-visibility conditions to determine if additional guidelines should be included in training manuals.

The pilot and crew of the aircraft that crashed may also have been relying too heavily on night vision goggles, which are designed to improve vision in the dark, the report said.

However, investigating officers who wrote the report concluded that “no further restrictions to training or operations are warranted pertaining to night vision goggles.”

A separate investigation determined that the pilot in a Nov. 22 crash off the coast of San Diego County “elected to take off knowing he had a zero oil-pressure reading on the panel” of the Sea Knight, the report says.

The accident occurred when the aircraft took off from the Navy’s amphibious assault ship Peleliu during the final operation of a major Marine and Navy exercise.

The pilot experienced a loss of power and crashed back onto the ship when he attempted to land.

Lance Cpl. Mark A. Marquez of Camp Pendleton was lost at sea and 22 other Marines and three sailors were slightly injured in the crash, which occurred 20 miles off Camp Pendleton.

The report also stated that the pilot had only seven hours of sleep before the flight, instead of the eight hours required of pilots before they fly.

The report concluded that the pilot should be grounded. However, the amount of time he will be restricted from flying is considered confidential information and was censored in the report.

CH-46E helicopters, built by Boeing Vertol Co. for the Navy and Marines, are used to transport troops, supplies and small vehicles, and have often been referred to as the Marines’ workhorse.

Navy officials Tuesday said they could not determine exactly how many Marines have died in CH-46E crashes since the helicopter was first flown by the military in 1964. But the helicopter has been involved in at least 11 fatal accidents, with more than 30 deaths of military personnel.