Released: February 20, 1998
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. - The 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess AFB, Texas, had
a flying "stand down" Feb. 19 so leaders could talk to wing people
about the B-1B that crashed Feb. 18 and to also review operational and safety
procedures.
The plane went down near Mattoon, Ky., about 1:45 p.m. CST. All four
crewmembers ejected safely and are listed in good condition at nearby hospitals.
Lt. Col. Daniel J. Charchian, the pilot, and Capt. Kevin J. Schields,
an instructor weapons systems officer, spent the night at Fort Campbell's
Blanchfield Community Hospital for observation. Capt. Jeffery T. Sabella,
the co-pilot, and 1st Lt. Bert G. Winslow, weapons system officer, spent
the night at Vanderbilt University's hospital in Nashville for observation.
Sabella and Winslow were transferred Thursday to the Fort Campbell hospital.
The aircraft accident investigation team is on-scene and a public report
with their findings will be issued in about 90 days.
The B-1B was on a training mission at the time of the crash and there
were no munitions on board. It took off shortly after 9 a.m. from Dyess
and was expected back that afternoon. The flight plan included several
common aspects of flight including air-to-air refueling and high- and low-level
operations. The aircraft was flying on an approved FAA standard flight
plan at approximately 20,000-feet altitude at the time of the incident.
Background information on the B-1B is available on the World Wide Web
at http://www.af.mil/news/factsheets/B_1B_Lancer.html