Update 1445, 05.31.05: All five crew members have been killed in what appears to be a weather-related crash of a rugged turboprop American SportPlane design configured for Recon use by the UAE and Iraqi military. The Iraqis have only recently begun to rebuild their Air Force, it having been reestablished just this last January. Four US Airmen and an Iraqi Airman were on board.

Military spokesman Lt. Col. Fred Wellman, reported that, "All the personnel onboard are confirmed to have been killed in action, but there is still an investigation ongoing."

The Iraqi Air Force consists of a number of disparate aircraft, including a number of Comp Air 7SL turboprops, four Bell Jet Rangers and at least three C130Es. The aircraft went down in strong winds and sand-obscured visibilities about 80 miles NE of Baghdad, near the village of Jalula. The aircraft left Kirkuk Air Base at about 10 a.m. on a mission to Jalula.

An Iraqi civilian reported the crash to Joint Communications Center officials in Khanaqin at noon. Iraqi and coalition forces in the area responded to the crash site and secured the immediate area.

The aircraft involved is reported to be an AeroComp CompAir 7 (similar to the aircraft pictured below), powered by a 657HP Walter turboprop engine capable of allowing the CA7 to cruise at 250-275 mph at 21,000 feet and take-off in as little as 300-400 feet. It has a useful load (depending on configuration) of 1670 to 2050 pounds, a 150 gallon fuel capacity and seats for 6 or 7 people.

Aircraft Has Limited Data-Logging Capabilities

ANN has confirmed that this aircraft has a number of instruments that have limited data-logging capability. Several instruments, mostly engine-related, can hold as much as an hour to hour and a half's worth of flight data. The Air Force has been instructed as to how to access that information and it is expected that this information is likely to be very helpful in determining a probable cause for this tragedy.

The Comp Air 7SL's, 7 in all, were a gift from the United Arab Emirates to help Iraq’s Air Force continue to build its operational capability. The aircraft were delivered to Basrah Air Base Nov. 13th, 2004. The Comp Air 7SLs were equipped with a sensor suite enabling them to have a reconn capability, although intentions (at the time) saw them being used in a utility role. The seven aircraft represented one half of a gift from the UAE and were augmented by four Bell Jet Ranger Helicopters in late December.

The CompAirs and Bell Jet Rangers were to comprise the Iraqi Air Force’s number 3 Squadron, which will operate in a utility light transport role from ‘New Al Muthana’ - the West BIAP Air Base currently being refurbished. The Iraqi Air Force also uses Seeker SB7L Seabird aircraft.

Coalition forces have already secured the crash site northwest of Baghdad, and crash details have been reported to the joint communication center in the town of Khanaqin, near the Iranian border.

The names of the Airmen killed are being withheld pending notification of next of kin. We'll have more details as they become available.

FMI: www.defenselink.mil, www.mnstci.iraq.centcom.mil