Air Force Instructor Pilot Dies in Ground Incident at Sheppard AFB

An Air Force instructor pilot based at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas tragically died early Tuesday morning as a result of injuries sustained from an ejection seat activation while on the ground.

According to a press release from the base, the pilot, whose identity has not yet been disclosed pending notification of next of kin, succumbed to injuries caused by their T-6A Texan II ejection seat activating during ground operations. The aviator was assigned to the 80th Flying Training Wing, responsible for instructing approximately 200 pilots annually, as stated on the wing’s website.

Base officials have initiated an investigation into the incident. This fatality marks the latest in a series of incidents involving the T-6 aircraft, following a grounding of the aircraft two years ago due to concerns regarding the ejection seat.

Last month, an Air Force T-6 from the 559th Flying Training Squadron was forced to conduct an emergency landing at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. In July 2022, Air Education and Training Command was informed by Air Force Materiel Command of potential quality defects in the manufacture of explosive cartridges in the escape systems of T-38 and T-6 aircraft, prompting a halt in training operations on those aircraft as a precautionary measure.

Between 2000 and 2021, there have been seven Class A mishaps involving the T-6 aircraft, resulting in two fatalities, according to Air Force Safety Center data.

These incidents with the T-6 aircraft coincide with broader challenges facing the Air Force in modernizing its aging training fleet. Delays and issues with software and the ejection system have impacted the introduction of the new T-7A Red Hawk training jet, intended to replace the aging T-38 Talon training aircraft. While the first T-7 aircraft commenced flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, in November, the full fleet’s availability to airmen has been postponed to 2028 from the initial target of 2027, DefenseOne reported.