We have obtained the first still photos of the February accident—and they’re pretty stunning. With last month’s technical report detailing the demise of the Spirit of Kansas came footage from security cameras at Andersen Air Force base in Guam.
Officials also snapped—but, until now, did not release—still photos of that crash site. In the pictures, firefighters work in silvery suits and crash teams cautiously approach the empty ejection seats, which use explosive charges to gain distance from a foundering airplane. Both pilots were able to eject safely through panels in the airplane’s cockpit roof. The white spray seen in the photos is fire suppression foam.
Scroll down for more—including an illustrated timeline of the crash—and stay tuned to PM’s Aviation Central for more details as they unfold...
9:29 am /// Waterlogged /// During a preflight check, the pilot notices three air data sensors are malfunctioning. Unknown to the crew, water in the sensors is skewing the air-pressure readings too high.
9:34 am /// Recalibration /// A ground crewman, using a cockpit keyboard, recalibrates the three waterlogged sensors. The preflight checks continue, and the B-2 taxis to runway Zero-Six-Right (above, top left).
10:29 am /// Boiling Sensors /// Before takeoff, the pilot turns on the sensors’ heaters. Water in the sensors evaporates; the readings are now normal, but the earlier fix skews air-pressure data too low.
10:30:12 am /// Slow Start /// The B-2 starts takeoff. The on-board flight computer displays the wrong airspeed, causing the pilot to lift off at 133 knots (153 mph) rather than the required 145 knots.
10:30:50 am /// Auto Override /// The flight computer, relying on bad air-pressure readings, concludes the aircraft is in a nose-low altitude and automatically raises the nose to 30 degrees (top right).
10:31:06 am /// Fiery Ending /// The B-2, going too slowly, with its nose angled too high, stalls. As the airplane’s wing scrapes the runway (bottom left), the pilot and commander safely eject. The B-2 crashes (bottom right).
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