‘TRAGEDY’:
The air force has grounded all T-34C trainer aircraft as it investigates the cause of the crash that killed the pilots carrying out a simulated engine-failure exercise
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Staff writer, with CNA, KAOHSIUNG
The air force yesterday said that pilots reported no anomalies or malfunctions before a T-34C trainer aircraft crashed at an air base in Kaohsiung while carrying out a simulated engine-failure exercise earlier in the day.
Following the crash yesterday morning, killing two pilots, the air force grounded all of its T-34C trainers pending thorough safety checks, air force chief inspector Major General Chiang Yi-cheng (江義誠) told a news conference.
The two-seat aircraft, tail No. 3414, carrying Lieutenant Colonel Lu Chi-yu (盧季佑) and Lieutenant Colonel Kuo Chun-nan (過俊男), took off from Runway 36L at Gangshan Air Base (岡山基地) in Kaohsiung at 7:47am, Chiang said.
Photo: Wang Jung-hsiang, Taipei Times
The flight was to conduct a routine flight evaluation of Lu, a chief instructor who had logged 2,114 flying hours in T-34Cs, who flew in the front seat.
Kuo, who had logged 2,172 flying hours in T-34Cs, served as the examiner and was seated in the rear, Chiang said.
The aircraft crashed near the northern end of the runway at 8:08am, Chiang said.
An emergency rescue team found the bodies of the two pilots inside the aircraft after extinguishing the fire at about 8:53am.
The air force has formed a task force to investigate the cause of the crash, Chiang said.
It has grounded all T-34C aircraft, and pilots are using simulators for training in the meantime, he added.
The aircraft passed a round of safety checks on April 9, and no major malfunctions had been reported since then, he said.
Neither pilot reported any anomalies or malfunctions during the flight test, he said, adding that weather conditions, including visibility, were suitable for flying.
The air force purchased about 50 T-34Cs in 1985 as basic trainer aircraft. About 30 remain in service.
The air force has said it plans to replace the trainer aircraft with either domestically built or imported basic trainers, and estimated that the T-34Cs would enter decommissioning in 2033.
Earlier yesterday, President William Lai (賴清德) expressed condolences to the families of the two officers killed in the crash.
“I am deeply saddened by this sudden tragedy. On behalf of the country, I would like to thank the two pilots for their sacrifices and contributions, and extend my deepest condolences to their families,” Lai told reporters in Taipei.
Lai said he had instructed the Ministry of National Defense to establish a task force to determine the cause of the accident as soon as possible and prevent similar incidents from recurring.
The ministry is directed to assist the bereaved families with funeral arrangements to ensure the pilots receive a proper farewell, Lai said.
