‘Pilot error’ partial cause of drone crash, $64 million aircraft destroyed

WASHINGTON, DC. (KFGO) – The crash of a military drone near Grand Forks Air Force Base last August is blamed in part, on pilot error.

According to an Air Combat Command statement, the RQ-4 aircraft was flying a mission in the local military operating area when the mission control element experienced a “workstation lockup.”   The report suggests neither the launch and recovery element pilot nor instructor pilot was aware of a 4,000 foot discrepancy in altitude.

The aircraft commenced an approach to land at the base, but overshot the base and crashed into a field about 7 north of the runway.

The aircraft, valued at approximately $64 million dollars, was destroyed.