Pentagon sources: 'Human error' cause of Kuwait bombing accident

Scene from the bombing accident

From Jamie McIntyre
CNN Military Affairs Correspondent

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Human error was determined to be the cause of the accidental bombing on a Kuwaiti training range last month that killed six people, Pentagon sources said Friday.

A senior Pentagon official said it's likely the investigation will find fault with both the Navy F/A-18 pilot who dropped the three 500-pound bombs, and the Air Force forward air controller who directed him from the ground.

"There was clearly human error, and some procedural errors as well," said the official.

MESSAGE BOARD Accident in Kuwait

Another official said the blame was not equal, but would not say who was most at fault for the accident.

Four U.S. Army soldiers, an Air Force air controller and a New Zealander were killed in the March 12 accident, which took place during a live-fire exercise at the Udairi training range.

Sources said an airborne air controller who was flying in the back seat of a Navy F-14 added to the confusion that resulted in the accident.

Pentagon officials said the investigation by Marine Lt. Gen. Michael DeLong has been completed and is now in the hands of Army Gen. Tommy Franks, commander-in-chief of the U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida.

Franks will recommend if disciplinary action should be taken against anyone, but sources say it would be highly unlikely that anyone would be court-martialed for what appears to be a tragic series of mistakes.

CNN reported last month that the forward air controller, Air Force Staff Sgt. Timothy B. Crusing, radioed the pilot with the signal "cleared hot", which is the term used to cue the pilot to drop bombs.

The pilot of the F/A-18, Cmdr. David Zimmerman, dropped three bombs before the air controller recognized there was a problem and called on the pilot to "abort," but it was too late, sources told CNN shortly after the accident.

Sources said the three Mk-82 bombs hit near an observation tower some 2,300 meters, or about 1.4 miles, from the intended target.

Navy officials say Cmdr. Zimmerman is a squadron commander and is a highly experienced pilot, having logged over 3,000 flight hours.

He was temporarily assigned to the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman at the time of the accident.

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