A Marine Corps helicopter crash last year that resulted in the deaths of five service members was mainly due to pilot error, though poor weather and the use of night vision goggles likely played a part, according to an investigation report obtained by The Associated Press.
The CH-53 Super Stallion went down on February 6, 2024, during a late-night flight when it struck a mountain near Pine Valley, California, while returning to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
Investigators believe several factors contributed to the crash. However, like other military aviation accidents, some conclusions were based on assumptions because the CH-53 did not have a crash-survivable flight data recorder.
Issues with night vision goggles were also mentioned in the deadly collision of an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger jet near Reagan Washington National Airport in January, which killed 67 people. The goggles can make it hard for pilots to judge distance and can be affected by weather and light conditions.
The Marine helicopter flew in icing weather and low clouds that made it difficult to see the mountain terrain. The crew used night vision goggles, which may not have provided a clear enough view to avoid crashing, the investigation said.
The report stated that the precipitation and cloud cover likely reduced the goggles’ effectiveness and may have caused the crew to believe they were at a safe distance from the ground.
A Marine CH-53E Super Stallion helicopterInvestigators concluded that the pilot and crew chief “most likely believed they were operating legally and within their comfort level.”
Still, they found the pilot’s failure to steer clear of the terrain was the main cause of the crash. The report also said the commanding officer, who was later removed from duty due to a lack of confidence in leadership, should not have given the flight the go-ahead.
The Super Stallion disappeared during its night flight from Creech Air Force Base back to Miramar. It was found the next morning near the mountain area of Pine Valley.
The crash killed all five Marines on board: Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, 21, from Olathe, Kansas; Sgt. Alec Langen, 23, from Chandler, Arizona; Capt. Miguel Nava, 28, from Traverse City, Michigan; Capt. Jack Casey, 26, from Dover, New Hampshire; and Capt. Benjamin Moulton, 27, from Emmett, Idaho.
The report included interviews where several squadron members said crews were overworked because they had to take on more flights following the months-long grounding of the V-22 Osprey fleet last year.