Training craft might have brushed tree

The left position light, strobe light and wing tip of one of NASA's Shuttle Training Aircraft, or STA, show signs of minor damage from apparent contact with a tree near Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility, according information released by NASA.

The incident occurred during landing about 6:30 p.m. EDT Oct. 19 following a training session. An STA flight instructor was piloting the aircraft. The flight crew was unaware of any contact with the tree, and there were no injuries.

Thunderstorms were in the area at the time of the incident, which is under investigation. The STA is a twin-engine Gulfstream II jet that was modified to simulate a space shuttle during landing. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett