The investigator is determined by the helicopter crash, in which 5 marines remained dead

Washington – A Fatal Marine Corps helicopter crash last year was caused by pilot errors, the weather conditions and the use of night vision glasses might have contributed to factors published on Wednesday.

Three pilots and two crew bosses were on board the CH-53 superstallion, which had crashed on February 6, 2024 during a night flight when the plane hit a mountain near Pine Valley, California on the way back to Marine Corps Air Station. The helicopter was discovered the next morning. All five marines on board were killed in the crash.

The helicopter “Tiger 43” was assigned to the Marine Heavy helicopter -sparkling 361, the Marine Aircraft Group 16 of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The crew returned from Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, to the base when the helicopter crashed.

The investigative officer finally found that the pilot could not avoid the mountainous terrain due to poor visibility.

During the night flight, there were moderate glaze and cloud layers along the route of the helicopter, which may have prevented a safe flight. The crew also used night vision glasses, which probably did not give them the clear view that was necessary so as not to plunge into the site, the investigators found.

The boundaries of night vision glasses were also identified as a potential factor for the fatal collision of a Black Hawk helicopter of the army and a passenger jet near Reagan Washington National Airport in January, in which 67 people were killed. The protective glasses can reduce the ability of a pilot to determine the distance and can be deteriorated by weather or light pollution.

“We may never be the exact reason for this basic cause and the [investigating officer] Can't determine an explanation, ”says the report.

While the examination did not provide a contributor or informal factor, the commander of the squadron based in Miramar would not have approved the crew to fly.

Nine months after the crash, Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Harvey, the commander's officer, was relieved of the duty, “due to a loss of trust and trust in his ability to continue to serve in this position,” said an explanation that the service presented in November.

“The commanding general has determined that [Harvey] A bad judgment was applied and it was expected to have greater care in fulfilling his duties, ”said the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, who supervises shaving on the west coast.

In the interviews contained in the report, several members of the squadrons said that the crews had been stretched thinly because their unit had to fly additional missions to compensate for the months of the V-22 fishing fleet of last year.

Three days after the crash, the service announced that five marines were killed in the crash – capt. Benjamin Moulton, captain Jack Casey, captain Miguel Nava, Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis and Sgt. Alec Langen. On February 16, 2024, the squadron organized a commemoration in which more than 550 people gathered to honor the loss of the crew.

The 27-year-old Moulton was a CH-53E helicopter pilot from Emmett, Idaho. It was commissioned in March 2019 and promoted captain in August 2023, according to the Marines. His decorations include the National Defense Service Medal.

The 26-year-old Casey was a CH-53E helicopter pilot from Dover, NH, he was commissioned in May 2019 and promoted captain in September 2023. His decorations include the National Defense Service Medal.

The 28-year-old Nava was a CH-53E helicopter pilot made of traverse city. He was the longest possession of the five fallen marines. He was commissioned in May 2017 and promoted to captain in November 2021. According to the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, his decorations include the National Defense Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

21-year-old Davis was a CH-53e helicopter crew boss from Olathe, Kan. His decorations include the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and a SEA Service Occupational Association.

Langen, 23, was a CH-53E helicopter team from Chandler, Arizona, to the Marine Corps in September 2017 and was promoted to Sergeant in October 2022, the service said. His decorations include the Marine and Marine Corps performance medal, the good medal of behavior, the global war against Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and two SEA Service Operations.

“We will never forget the Marines of Tiger 43,” said the 3rd Marine aircraft wing.

The Stars and Stripes Reporter Gary Warner and the Associated Press contributed to this report.