Report: Ellsworth crash cost $456 million

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – The United States Air Force released a lengthy report critical of the crew involved with a plane crash that happened early in the evening on January 4 on the Ellsworth Air Force Base. 

According to the 58-page report released on the Air Force’s website, the B-1B Lancer bomber touched down 100 feet short of the runway and all four crew members ejected as the aircraft skidded across the runway, for more than 5,000 feet. Two members suffered injuries from the ejection and the plane was a complete loss with an estimated cost of $456 million. 

“This investigation has shown that many failures leading to this mishap were not a one-time occurrence or an aberration,” the opinion summary of the crash report by USAF Col. Erick Lord said. “Throughout its investigation, the Accident Investigation Board found unsatisfactory levels of basic airmanship, an inadequate focus on foundational governing directive knowledge, and an overall ...