SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The commander of the 28th Operations Group, Col. Mark Kimball, has been relieved of his duties at Ellsworth Air Force, the Air Force Global Strike Command said in a news release.
Kimball was removed “due to a loss of trust and confidence in his ability to command,” based on the findings of the B-1 bomber Jan. 4 crash investigation report, the release said.
The crash investigation report was released in July.
The Air Force investigative report said “an organizational culture that tolerated decaying
airmanship skills, a lack of discipline, poor communication, and inadequate focus on regulations,” as some of the substantial contributing factors to the crash.
The report will be used to determine any follow-up action, Lauren Linscott, a spokesman for the Air Force Global Strike Command, said in a July 26 KELOLAND News story that the report would be used to determine any follow-up action.
“We need to be able to determine what needs to change to make sure something like this doesn’t happen again,” Linscott said in the July 26 story.
The crash destroyed a $450 million bomber, the report said.
Although adverse weather conditions substantially contributed to the mishap, the crew lacked situational awareness to adjust to changes in local wind direction during landing, according to the report. Ineffective crew communication also contributed to the crash.
