The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the “Thunderbirds,” take off for a practice mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Aug. 26, 2025. (Shane Milligan/U.S. Air Force)
The crash of an Air Force Thunderbirds jet during a training mission in California last year was caused by severe engine damage, according to an Air Combat Command report.
The investigation found that the aircraft lost thrust at low altitude, leaving the pilot unable to recover, according to the report released Monday.
As the jet was accelerating to full power, it experienced a non-recoverable stall. It felt “like the jet just … stopped midair,” the pilot said.
The jet crashed on Dec. 3, 2025 near Trona Airport in California. The Thunderbirds are based at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, which is about 117 miles from the airport.
“The cause of the mishap was three misaligned, or turned, variable vanes in the 4th and 5th stages of the MA engine’s compressor section,” the report said. “The resulting irregular airflow increased vibratory stresses on the 5th and 6th stage compressor blades.
“As a result, one 5th stage compressor blade and one 6th stage compressor blade failed due to high cycle fatigue and separated during flight, causing catastrophic engine damage and a significant loss of thrust, thereby making sustained flight impossible. Evidence was insufficient to conclusively determine the cause of the turned vanes.”
The pilot ejected safely and sustained minor injuries. The F-16C Fighting Falcon was destroyed on impact; the loss was valued at $33,460,770.
The Thunderbirds have experienced several crashes throughout their history, though the last fatal incident occurred in 2018, when Maj. Stephen Del Bagno became unconscious and died while practicing a maneuver near Las Vegas.
Stars and Stripes reporter Gary Warner contributed to this report.
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