U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command has determined the cause behind the crash of a B-52H bomber assigned to the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron at Andersen Air Force Base in May 2016.
Accident Investigation Board found that the pilot had sighted bird activity during the take off run and had perceived cockpit indications as a loss of symmetric thrust required for safe rotation. Therefore a decision was made to abort the high-speed heavy-weight take off.
However, the drag chute failed to deploy properly and the wheel brakes exceeded their energy limits. The bomber subsequently overran the runway and caught fire.
No one was killed in the accident and the loss was pegged at $112 million.