The United States Navy completed the environmental cleanup, June 16, after a Navy T-45C Goshawk jet trainer aircraft assigned to Training Squadron 22 out of Naval Air Station (NAS) Kingsville, Texas, crashed about nine miles south of Kingsville near Ricardo on May 17.
Members of the Navy On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) program for Navy Region Southeast (NRSE), out of Jacksonville, Florida, arrived in Texas May 18 to assist safety and investigation teams, and to evaluate the site for environmental impacts.
The team evaluated the site upon arrival to determine if there would be any special equipment requirements at the remote area.
The cleanup team made adjustments to ensure access to the site due to heavy flooding after the Kingsville area received a record 13 inches of rain, May 19. The cleanup team used equipment with tracks instead of wheels to navigate the muddy and flooded areas at the site.
The team removed the remaining wreckage May 22 and delivered it to NAS Kingsville where the aircraft investigation board will continue its review.
Soil samples were taken and lab tests conducted as part of the environmental cleanup. The Navy OSC team walked through acres of land, picking up visible debris and conducted additional soil testing on site.
“Test results show we have a clean base to bring in backfill (soil) to the crash site,” said John Baxter, Navy OSC with Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Southeast and NRSE.
After a clean base was verified, the project was put on hold due to continued rainfall, which again flooded the area making it impossible to bring backfill in to the site.
“The team was mobilized and started work again June 13 when they were able to bring backfill in, which was placed at the site along with grass seed specific to the area,” explained Baxter. “This project took longer than expected with above normal amounts of rainfall seen in May and June, which caused flooding on two occasions at the site.”
The Navy OSC team has one goal in mind for the environmental cleanup, which is to return the land to its previous condition. The team worked around challenges caused from flooding rain in May and June.
“If we are going to respond to a mishap, this is the type of mishap we want to respond to, where there are no casualties,” said Sarah Murtagh from NRSE. “The landowners and the sheriff’s department have been very supportive while we have been here working, even with the weather delay. It is not easy for anyone when we have to come in and disrupt anyone’s normal daily activities.”
The Navy OSC provides emergency cleanup services for Navy incidents that may have an environmental impact to a base or the local community.
The crash investigation is ongoing.
If anyone in the general public encounters any additional aircraft debris, please report the location to (361) 516-6306 or contact the local sheriff’s office. Please do not attempt to move or touch any aircraft debris.