An MV-22B Osprey hovers in Holtville, California, Aug. 3, 2023. (Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jennifer Sanchez) The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
By: FEDweek StaffThree Marines – pilots Maj. Tobin Lewis and Capt. Eleanor LeBeau and crew chief Cpl. Spencer Collart – were killed after their tiltrotor aircraft, attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 363, nearly stalled and began descending after an attempt to avert a midair collision with another Osprey.
“Given the nacelle and power settings, low altitude, weight of the aircraft and tailwind experienced, there was insufficient time and space to arrest the descent and resume flight,” the report stated. “Consequently, the [Osprey] crashed into the ground and burst into flames.”
Investigators also cited concerns with the squadron’s maintenance practices, stopping short of directly linking them to the crash itself. Several actions were incomplete before the aircraft was cleared to take off on the fatal flight – to include required maintenance, turnaround inspections, and a weight-and-balance report.
“These maintenance practices highlighted a lackadaisical attitude across the squadron regarding certain procedures designed to ensure safe flight operations,” the report stated.
All other crew survived, although some were seriously injured and still recovering nearly a year afterward.
Crew chief Cpl. Spencer Collart initially survived the crash, but sustained fatal injuries while trying to extract his comrades from the burning cockpit. He is being posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the the service’s highest noncombat award, for his heroism.
“As evidenced by the investigative findings, Corporal Collart’s courageous and heroic act of re-entering the burning cockpit at great personal and fatal risk of his own life in an effort to save Major Lewis and Captain LeBeau displayed extraordinary physical courage,” Lt. Gen. M.S. Ceterholm, commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), wrote in a cover letter that accompanied the report.
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