Civilian Contractor Killed in Drone Propeller Accident at California Airfield

Investigation reveals inadequate training and situational awareness led to the fatal incident involving Stephanie Cosme.

A US Air Force civilian contractor, Stephanie Cosme, was fatally injured after walking into a drone's propeller at a California airfield.
The accident occurred due to inadequate training and a loss of situational awareness while Cosme was conducting tests on a parked MQ-9A Reaper drone.
Additional factors contributing to the accident included poor lighting, noisy conditions, rushed tests, and a lack of communication between the contractor test team and ground support workers.
Cosme was engaged in data collection activities and was focused on a handheld device, leading to her not noticing the spinning propeller.
Efforts to resuscitate Cosme were unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead shortly after the incident. She is remembered for her warmth, kindness, and passion for aviation.