MQ-9A ABBREVIATED ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REPORT RELEASED Published April 17, 2025 By Air Combat Command Air Combat Command Public Affairs JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. -- Today, Air Combat Command released an Abbreviated Accident Investigation Board report regarding an MQ-9A Reaper that crashed into the ground in an undisclosed location within the United States Africa Command area of responsibility on Nov. 29, 2023. The mishap resulted in a complete loss of the aircraft. There were no fatalities, nor injuries or reported damage to civilian property. The loss of government property was valued at $21.5 million. The aircraft belonged to the 432nd Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. At the time of the mishap, the aircraft was operated remotely by a Launch and Recovery Element deployed with the 12th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron, assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command. The LRE was comprised of a pilot and sensor operator. The AAIB president determined the cause of the mishap was an undetermined mechanical failure within the Fuel Control Unit that caused a sudden decrease in fuel flow to the aircraft’s engine, leading to a loss of torque. As the aircraft was unable to be recovered, it was not possible to conduct an inspection or test of the aircraft’s parts after the mishap. Therefore, the board president was unable to determine a specific cause of the mechanical failure which resulted in the catastrophic loss of torque and forced landing. The AAIB report can be viewed at: https://www.afjag.af.mil/Portals/77/AIBReports/2023/29NOV23%20ACC%20MQ9A%20Creech%20AFB%20AIB%20Report.pdf?ver=uNKFjxahsXLYxLv_b2Fndw%3d%3d