Federal investigators are on the scene conducting an investigation into the cause of Monday's B-52 crash that killed eight people during a training mission at Edwards Air Force Base near Los Angeles, reports Fox News.
Authorities say the crew was preparing to test a new radar system when the plane went down moments after takeoff. Justin Green, an aviation attorney and Marine helicopter pilot veteran, believes the investigation will focus on engine failure since the aircraft crashed soon after taking off.
Desert News identified the casualties as Col. Gregory Watson, Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, Retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton, Maj. Alexander Davis, Maj. Robert Dee, Maj. Brad Hovey, Jeromy Smith and Christopher Rischar.
The investigation could take up to six months, and flight test operations are currently on hold at the base until next week.
Derek Jones is a retired Air Force fighter pilot who was part of the investigative team of the June 1994 crash of a B-52 at Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington state that killed four crew members.
He says the Edwards’ plane was not be a typical B-52.
"It would probably have all sorts of different type of equipment on it for the purpose of doing tests and evaluation. And so, in that respect, it could have had some sort of modification that other B-52s don't have," Jones speculates.
The B-52 is an ever expandable airplane, he says, and is not going to be removed from service anytime soon.
"It's going to be around for, probably, another 20 years, I suspect. I wouldn't even question whether we see the airplane at its 100th birthday and still be flying and operational. Not what we would want, but it has proven its worth over and over and over again,” states Jones. “When we think of all the great airplanes that have ever been built, the B-52 stands out as probably the perennial airplane.”
He thinks its about 45 to 60 days out before a formal report about the cause of the crash is released.
