AF: Airman's death ruled accidental

  • Published
  • By Air Education and Training Command News Service
The Air Force released a report of investigation into the May 4, 2006, death of Senior Airman Abby J. Bilbrey, citing the cause of death as accidental.

Airman Bilbrey was assigned to the 56th Communications Squadron at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., as an Airfield Systems Journeyman. She and Airman First Class Isaac Acosta, also assigned to the 56th CS, were tasked to repair a radio audio quality discrepancy at the White Tank Mountains transmitter site.

During the drive to the transmitter site, Airman Bilbrey encountered a tire slippage on a steep section of the road. Airman Acosta recommended she stop the vehicle and they exchange places to allow him to complete the drive to the transmitter site. Airman Bilbrey stopped the vehicle, placed it in park and while Airman Acosta was walking around the front of the truck, slid across the seat to the passenger side.

The investigation board determined that when Airman Bilbrey released the brake pedal to slide across the seat, for unknown reason the four-wheel drive shifted to the neutral position, which in this vehicle overrides the transmission to place it in neutral.

This caused the vehicle to begin rolling backward and Airman Acosta was unable to gain entry on the driver's side. The vehicle knocked him down, rolled over the edge of the road and tumbled approximately 368 feet down the mountain. Airman Bilbrey, who had unfastened her seatbelt to move across the seat was ejected from the vehicle and died from blunt force trauma injuries.

Col. John C. Millander from Altus Air Force Base, Okla., served as president of the ground accident investigation board.