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Air Force releases results of Class A mishap ground accident investigation

  • Published
  • Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs Report
The Air Force has completed its investigation into an accident in which an Airman died at Minot Air Force Base, N.D. The report, released Dec. 13, 2010, discusses factors which may have played a role in the accident.

Senior Airman Richard A. Gallelli Jr. was killed during a training accident on April 29, 2010, when a dummy air launched cruise missile fell on him while it was being positioned for connection to a pylon in the maintenance facility. Air launched cruise missiles are designed to be attached to pylons beneath the wings of B-52 bombers.

Airman Gallelli was a member of the 17th Munitions Squadron at Minot AFB, which is responsible for building, maintaining and delivering safe, secure and effective missiles to the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing there. The squadron is part of the 798th Munitions Maintenance Group, an Air Force Materiel Command unit.

The command, headquartered at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, conducted the ground accident investigation.

Col. Cleophas Hockaday Jr., president of the investigation board, said, "The loss of Senior Airman Gallelli is tragic. He was an outstanding Airman who received the highest praise from his peers and superiors, exceeded expectations and was an outstanding team member. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with his family."

AFMC's report said the accident occurred while a team of Airmen were training to be recertified to mate the missile to a pylon. The report stated that the team followed correct procedures for the training and that equipment involved was functioning correctly. However, the report said, the team was not aware that the equipment involved was misaligned in such a way as to allow the missile to roll off the equipment.

As a result of this mishap, Air Force Materiel Command implemented a short-term engineering solution and is now working on a long-term solution to ensure this type of mishap does not happen again. The command also improved training procedures and documentation to ensure that all training teams are aware of the potential danger.

For more information, please contact JoAnne Rumple, AFMC/PAO, phone: (937) 257-0046, fax: (937) 257-2558.