Air Force: 3 killed in military plane crash

CLOVIS, N.M. -- Three service members were killed after a single-engine reconnaissance and surveillance plane crashed in eastern New Mexico during a training flight, officials at Cannon Air Force Base said.

Base officials said the U-28A crashed Tuesday night in a field about a quarter mile east of Clovis Municipal Airport, about 3 miles east of Cannon. The plane was assigned to Cannon.

The identities of the victims will be withheld until 24 hours after the families are notified, Cannon officials said in a statement.

The crash caused a fire that was extinguished by local firefighters, officials said.

Two large pieces of the aircraft, including the tail section, were visible Wednesday morning at the crash scene.

A news conference was held at Cannon and CBS News affiliate KFDA-TV was there.

Col. Ben Maitre said that it would be premature to speculate a cause of the crash. He said there was no indication of any problems with the plane before the crash, and weather reports for the area suggested clear skies.

“Right now, we’re working to secure all of the data from the wreckage and the documentation that went into the preparation and conduct of that sortie,” Maitre said.

Investigators also are reviewing maintenance records for the plane.

Matire also said that the base hasn’t seen an accident involving an aircraft and fatality in several years. He also restated that no further details on gender or names would be released about the victims pending notification of family members.

Cannon has approximately 5,800 military personnel and civilian employees and is home to the 27th Special Operations Wing.

The wing’s units include a special operations group that uses several types of aircraft to perform missions that include insertion and removal of personnel, combat support, aerial refueling of helicopters, close air support and drone operations.

“We are deeply saddened by this loss within our Air Commando family,” Matire said. “Our sympathies are with the loved ones and friends affected by this tragedy, and our team is focused on supporting them during this difficult time.”

An Air Force fact sheet says the U-28A is used for tactical airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of special operations forces.

The fact sheet says the plane has a four-member crew of two pilots, a combat systems officer and a tactical systems officer.

According to the fact sheet, the U-28A “evolved from commercially available aircraft that were purchased and then modified with communications gear, aircraft survivability equipment, electro-optical sensors and advanced navigation systems.”