Novi airman among three killed in New Mexico training excercise

CLOVIS, N.M. (AP) - The Air Force has identified a Novi airmen as one of the three killed during a training exercise on Tuesday in New Mexico.

Capt. Andrew Becker, from Novi, was killed in the training accident in eastern New Mexico. The 33-year-old pilot was killed along with 29-year-old Capt. Kenneth Dalga from Goldsboro, North Carolina, and 26-year-old co-pilot, 1st Lt. Frederick Dellecker from Daytona Beach, Florida.

All three were assigned to the 318th Special Operations Squadron at Cannon.

The cause of the single-engine U-28A's crash near the Clovis Municipal Airport is under investigation.

Col. Ben Maitre, commander of the 27th Special Operations Wing, says the unit's thoughts and prayers are with families and friends of those killed.

Col. Maitre said during a news conference Wednesday that it would be premature to speculate on what caused the crash. He said there was no indication of any problems with the plane, 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.

Maitre described the U-28A as reliable, saying that type of aircraft is used thousands of hours a year and that crew members fly hundreds of hours annually to maintain their proficiency with the plane and its systems.

Capt. Brandon Baccam, chief spokesman for the wing, said the crew was assigned to the 318th Special Operations Squadron, part of the 27th Special Operations Wing based a Cannon.

The wing's units use several types of aircraft to perform missions that include personnel transport, combat support, aerial refueling of helicopters, close air support and drone operations.

Officials said use of the Clovis airport was part of the training mission, but additional information on the mission and circumstances of the crash itself were not immediately available.

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.

"We are deeply saddened by this loss within our Air Commando family," Maitre 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."

Cannon has about 5,800 military personnel and civilian employees.

It has been several years since the base has had a fatal crash, Maitre said.

The last deadly crash involving a U-28A occurred in Africa in 2012 as the plane was returning from an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission for the war in Afghanistan. Four airmen were killed.

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 plane typically 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."
___

Davenport reported from Phoenix. Montoya Bryan reported from Albuquerque, New Mexico.