A recent accident report published by the U.S. Air Force has uncovered previously unknown details of the 2022 B-2 stealth bomber crash on a Missouri runway, which caused extensive damage. The report details how hydraulic failures during landing caused the left landing gear to collapse, prompting the pilot to stand up from his seat and press the brake pedal with full force in a crucial moment.
The accident, which occurred between December 10-12, 2022, saw the B-2 skid over a mile on its left wing before severe fires and explosions caused significant damage. The Air Force Global Strike Command’s Accident Investigation Board determined that design flaws in the hydraulic system were the root cause of the landing gear problems. The left landing gear failed to lock in place upon touchdown and collapsed. A fuel leak turned into a fire, destroying a large portion of the aircraft’s left side.
The financial toll of the accident included damage to the $300 million bomber and $27,500 in runway damage. The report emphasizes that while the aircraft followed the standard landing path on the runway, the left landing gear collapsed about 1,000 feet along the way. The fire originated from the left fuel tank and triggered explosions.
Both pilots escaped the accident unharmed. Air Force Colonel Jesse W. Lamarand, head of the investigation board, stated that the pilots responded appropriately to the hydraulic failures in the final moments, but a systemic design flaw prevented the landing gear from locking properly.
No faults were found with the maintenance crews and flight controllers stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, which serves as the sole training and operational center for B-2 aircraft within the Air Force.
The crash occurred during the return flight of two B-2 bombers to Missouri after formation training flights. The other aircraft continued onward to the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii.
The report also highlighted a delay in the use of Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) by firefighting teams responding to the blaze. The fire chief’s decision to reserve AFFF as a “last resort” caused a delay of more than three minutes, a point criticized in the report. However, the board concluded this delay did not significantly affect the extent of damage sustained by the aircraft.
This comprehensive report released by the Air Force sheds light on critical safety and technical infrastructure issues of B-2 bombers, while the pilots’ professional intervention prevented the accident from resulting in more severe consequences.
