A T-6 trainer aircraft's ejection seat malfunctioned at Sheppard AFB, killing USAF Instructor Pilot Capt. John Robertson. An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
By Shreya M
The ejection seat of a T-6 trainer aircraft malfunctioned during ground operations at Sheppard Air Force Base, close to Wichita Falls, Texas, killing a U.S. Air Force instructor pilot.An Air Force statement identified the pilot as 80th Operations Support Squadron Captain John Robertson. After being injured on May 13th "when the ejection seat of the T-6A Texan II aircraft he was in activated during ground operations," Capt. Robertson passed away the next day.
Col. Mitchell J. Cok, acting wing commander, stated in the statement, "This is a devastating loss for Captain Robertson's family and loved ones, as well as for the entire 80th Flying Training Wing." Captain Robertson was an instructor pilot and a much-loved Airman. We send our sincerest sympathies to everyone who was acquainted with and cherished by him." Col. Cok praised the "heroic efforts" of United Regional Hospital staff, as well as the base's security, fire, and maintenance teams. "Their efforts allowed time for Captain Robertson's family to be at his side when he passed," stated him.
The T-6 is equipped with a Martin-Baker-made US16LA JPATS (Joint Primary Aircraft Training System) ejection seat. It is a more compact version of the company's Mk16 seat, which is flown in various configurations on the F-35, Rafale, Typhoon, and T-38 platforms.
An "interim safety board investigation was convened immediately after the incident," according to the Sheppard AFB announcement, and a full Air Force Safety Investigation Board will be established by the end of the week. After the inquiry is over, the board will make its conclusions public. The anticipated duration of the study has not been disclosed.
The Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Programme, according to the Wing's website, "trains 50 percent of all U.S. Air Force fighter pilots and is the sole source of fighter pilot training for partner nations Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway," and is housed at the 80th Fighter Training Wing.
Hundreds of USAF T-38 and T-6 training aircraft were briefly grounded in 2022 while repairs were made to the explosive cartridge actuated devices (CAD) in the seats. The worry at the time was that the CADs' manufacturing flaws may cause the chairs to malfunction and not fire when instructed. According to advertising marketing the Mk18 seat, which was designed for F-16 Block 70 and 72 aircraft, Martin-Baker produces its own CADs.
The event occurs during the same week as a House Armed Services Committee report questioned if the presumptions supporting Collins Aerospace's sole-source selection to provide the ACES 5 ejection seat for the Next Generation Escape System "remain valid". This may result in a recompete of the 2020 contract, which includes seats for the B-2 bomber, F-15, F-16, and F-22 fighters, as well as the T-7A trainer, as AWST reported on May 14. Martin-Baker would probably submit a proposal in a new competition because the Mk18 seat is already certified and being incorporated on Block 70 F-16s.
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