Unmanned Aircraft From New Mexico Air Force Base Crashes

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. -- An unmanned aircraft from Holloman Air Force Base has crashed in Alamogordo.

Officials with the 49th Wing said the MQ-9 Reaper went down on base property at 6:45 p.m. Friday as it approached for landing.

Base officials said the cause of the crash is being investigated although the Alamogordo Daily Times reported that the Reaper may have hit a power line.

The aircraft is assigned to the 29th Attack Squadron, which is a remotely piloted aircraft flying training unit. The accident occurred at the end of a training mission.

Five previous Holloman-based unmanned aerial vehicles -- two MQ-1 Predators and three MQ-9 Reapers -- have crashed since Sept. 11, 2009, when the base declared the UAV's initial operational capability.

http://www.koat.com