A relative of a crew member who survived a B-1B Lancer crash in South Dakota earlier this year believes the official investigation unfairly criticized the airman’s weight and wrongly blamed personnel at Ellsworth Air Force Base.
Joni Smith, the mother-in-law of the instructor pilot involved in the crash, said she wrote to South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and members of Congress to express her concerns. One of her main issues was that the report inaccurately stated the airman’s weight as “nearly 260 pounds,” above the 245-pound maximum. The report suggested this indicated a decline in the unit’s discipline and culture.
Smith explained that her son-in-law never weighed more than 245 pounds officially, passed his fitness test just six weeks before the crash, and was not disqualified from flying. She said the weight mentioned in the report was taken while he was in a hospital bed, bandaged and swollen from injuries, making it an inaccurate measure.
Smith is concerned her son-in-law could face disciplinary action over his alleged weight, even though he is still recovering from serious back injuries sustained during the crash.
The crash occurred on January 4 at Ellsworth Air Force Base during a training exercise. The B-1B Lancer, worth $450 million, crashed 100 feet short of the runway, skidded over 5,000 feet, and caught fire. All four crew members ejected safely, though Smith’s son-in-law suffered multiple fractures and severe spine injuries.
The report, led by Col. Erick Lord, criticized various factors, including crew management, weather conditions, and a decline in the unit’s culture. It also noted that the instructor pilot’s weight might have contributed to the severity of his injuries.
While the Air Force did not respond to Smith’s specific claims, they stated they were taking appropriate actions based on the report’s findings. A week after the report was made public, the commander of the 28th Operations Group was fired due to a loss of trust and confidence.
Smith also criticized the report for downplaying the role of icing and wind shear in the crash, and she believes it unfairly blamed the crew and other personnel. Former crew members at Ellsworth echoed Smith’s concerns, saying the report hurt morale and didn’t address the root causes of the crash.
The B-1B Lancer fleet, which first entered service in the 1980s, is set to be replaced by the new B-21 Raider. The Air Force plans to temporarily relocate 17 B-1B Lancers and 800 personnel from Ellsworth to Grand Forks Air Force Base in 2025 for runway repairs in preparation for the B-21’s arrival.