Sand and pilot errors led to deadly MV-22 crash in Hawaii

The U.S. Marine Corps has concluded its investigation into the crash of a MV-22 from VMM-161 on May 17. Investigators determined that the pilots could have avoided the accident if they had taken steps to minimize or avoid the severe brownout conditions during the landing.

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Photo: Hawaii News Now

“Repeated, sustained flight time in brownout conditions … while attempting to land caused the left engine to stall, resulting in a loss of power that placed the aircraft in an unavoidable freefall to the ground,” according to a press release.

Two Marines were killed as a result of the crash.

Procedures were changed as a result of the crash, pilots now have only 35 seconds or less to make a “reduced visibility” landing. Previously, it was 60 seconds.

Investigators also called for a new air filtration system to be installed on the Osprey.

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