US Air Force T-38 Crash Kills Pilot in California

A T-38 Talon, like the one landing on an Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., runway April 10, crashed May 21 killing the pilot and injuring a crew member. The aircraft and its two-person crew were on a flight-test training mission at the time of the accident. The T-38 is a twin-engine, high-altitude, supersonic jet trainer used in a variety of roles because of its design, economy of operations, ease of maintenance and high performance. (Air Force photo by Senior Airman Julius Delos Reyes.)

News in Balance:

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., May 22, 2009 -- An Air Force test pilot student died May 21 when his jet trainer crashed north of Edwards Air Force Base.

Captain Mark P. Graziano, 30, died when the T-38A Talon he was piloting crashed about nine miles north of the base here, near California City, Calif. Captain Graziano was assigned to the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School here, where he was undergoing training to become a test pilot.

His crew member, Maj. Lee V. Jones, was injured upon ejecting from the aircraft. He was transported to Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, Calif., where he is listed in stable condition. Major Jones, a senior navigator, is also assigned to the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, undergoing test navigator training.

"We are shocked and saddened by this sudden loss and our hearts and prayers go out to Mark's family and loved ones," said Col. Terry M. Luallen, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School commandant. "We are doing all we can to support Mark's family during this trying time."

At approximately 1:15 p.m. yesterday the base was notified that a TPS aircraft had gone down near California City. Emergency responders from the base and Kern County arrived at the scene where they found Jones near the crash site, and transported him to Kern Medical Center. Graziano was pronounced dead at the scene.

A board of officers is investigating the accident.

(Report from a U.S. Air Force news release.)

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