The US Air Force took the unusual step of issuing a follow-up press release on the crash of a Tyndall F-22 last week. Normally, the initial announcement, accompanied by the ominous “a board of officers will investigate…” is the last word heard.
Despite initial media speculation, there are no indications that point to the life support system leading to this incident or playing any role in this crash. A thorough investigation is being conducted in accordance with standard Air Force and Department of Defense policy…
In this case, the Air Force appears to be a intentionally responding to speculation, apparently to squash possible connections to the recent “scandals” over F-22 safety.
An F-22 has crashed near Tyndall AFB, Florida. The pilot was reportedly able to safely eject, and no one on the ground was hurt.
As with all incidents, the Air Force will investigate it and report on it in some months. Notably, this one will likely draw significant attention, both due to recent “scandals” with F-22 safety and the relative cost of each of the less than 187 aircraft. Actually, make that 186.
A US Air Force F-16 crashed in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday; the pilot safely ejected. It was apparently part of a flight from Japan to the United States — meaning it was far from home (and potentially land) when the pilot ejected. That may explain why he spent 6 hours in the water and was eventually picked up by a commercial — not military — vessel.
With various controversies ongoing over crashing Ospreys and the presence of Marines, the US was quick to praise the alliance with Japan that aided in the pilot’s recovery.
As with every other aircraft incident, the Air Force will investigate to determine the cause over the next month or so.
Admiral John Harvey, the four-star admiral commanding US Fleet Forces Command, had an interesting characterization of the Friday F/A-18D Hornet crash into an apartment complex in Virginia Beach:
“I don’t speak for anybody’s religious beliefs, but the mayor and I both agreed that if you want to define a miracle, what happened here yesterday meets that definition for me,” Adm. John Harvey, the four-star head of the U.S. Fleet Forces Command, told reporters.
He also noted the many prayers for the community: Read more…
Categories: Fighter Pilot Tags: crash, ejection, f/a-18d, Fighter Pilot, hornet, john harvey, Military, miracles, Navy, oceana, pilot training, Prayer, Religion
Capt Francis Imlay was killed in Southwest Asia in the crash of his F-15E Strike Eagle. Reports indicate a second crewmember, normally a backseat WSO/CSO in the Strike Eagle, sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was reportedly deployed from Mountain Home AFB in Idaho.
Interestingly, none of the brief announcements to date indicate the crew ejected.
As usual, a board will convene to investigate the crash.
A US Air Force F-16 based out of Osan Air Base, Korea, crashed on Wednesday. The pilot was reportedly “safe” after ejecting.
An Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed near Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, during a routine training mission at approximately March 21.
The aircraft, assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron here, was flying a mission as part of the 51st Fighter Wing’s ongoing exercise.
As usual, a board will investigate for about a month. An accident report will likely make its way to the general public several months from now.
Also noted at FoxNews and the Air Force Times.
The widow of Capt Jeff Haney, killed in the November 2010 crash of an F-22 in Alaska, is suing the contractors who built the plane — which includes Lockheed, Boeing, Honeywell, and Pratt & Whitney.
It states that the aircraft was sold with known defective on-board oxygen generating system, bleed air system and other life support systems. “The life support systems of the F-22 Raptor aircraft were and are completely and wholly inadequate,” the lawsuit states.
In the mishap that keeps coming back to the Air Force, the IG recently Read more…
Categories: Fighter Pilot Tags: alaska, boeing, crash, don yoon, ejection, emergency oxygen, f-15, f-18, f-22, Fighter Pilot, Government, honeywell, ig, jeffrey haney, lawsuit, lockheed, marines, Military, norton schwartz, pratt & whitney, stephen stilwell
The Air Force Times notes that in Congressional testimony, Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz said the Air Force did not blame Capt Jeff Haney, pilot of the F-22 that crashed in Alaska — despite the public report apparently to the contrary.
Schwartz [said] the Air Force did not blame Capt. Jeff Haney for the…crash in Alaska, despite the service’s own report that said Haney was at fault.
“We did not assign blame to the pilot,” Schwartz said Read more…
Categories: Fighter Pilot Tags: air force, Aircraft, alaska, Congress, crash, ejection, f-22, Fighter Pilot, ig, inspector general, james browne, jeffrey haney, jim moran, lockheed, Military, norton schwartz, oxygen system
Investigators determined pilot error caused the 6 April 2011 crash of a US Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet near Lemoore Naval Air Station, California. Both the pilot and the backseat NFO were killed.
The pilot, Lt. Matthew I. Lowe, 33, of Plantation, Fla., and the plane’s weapons officer, Lt. Nathan H. “Beefcake” Williams, 28, of Oswego, N.Y., were Read more…
The Air Force has released the report of the September 2011 crash of an A-10C Thunderbolt II in Georgia.
According to the report, the mishap aircraft’s stall warning system malfunctioned at 15,000 feet, preventing stall warning tones from functioning properly… Without evidence of additional malfunctions, the mishap pilot continued the FCF.
At 34,000 feet, the mishap aircraft experienced a stall Read more…
An A-10C Warthog crashed in Georgia Monday afternoon. The pilot ejected and was being evaluated at Moody Air Force Base’s medical facilities.
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. — An Air Force A-10C pilot assigned to the 23rd Wing ejected from an aircraft during a routine mission at approximately 2:45 p.m. today in a non-residential area northeast of Berlin, Ga., in Cook County.
Update: The pilot was released with minor injuries. Public Affairs has posted pictures of the crash site.
Marc Knapp was sentenced to 46 months in prison for trying to sell an F-5 and various F-14 parts to Iran.
Prosecutors said Knapp…was motivated by both greed and a hatred of the United States. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Hall said Knapp told an undercover agent that he was starting to hate America and wanted to “level the playing field” with Iran.
Defense attorney Christopher Koyste said the statements Knapp made were “puffery.” Read more…
Categories: Fighter Pilot Tags: Aircraft, christopher koyste, david hall, ejection, f-14, f-5, Fighter Pilot, g-suit, iran, marc knapp, Military
According to the Military Times, the midair collision of two F/A-18s from Naval Air Station Fallon last year was the result of a very simple pilot error:
Shortly after takeoff, they moved into a “wall formation” with the Super Hornets four abreast, putting 1.2 nautical miles between the two planes that eventually would collide. The lieutenant commander was flying one of the two inside planes.
“90-right, go,” the lieutenant commander announced, signaling everyone to turn.
While the three other planes turned right, for some reason the lieutenant commander turned left. Read more…
The US Air Force reported that an F-16C Fighting Falcon crashed during combat training exercises near Caliente, Nevada, on Tuesday evening. The pilot was reported “missing.”
Unfortunately, that often means the pilot was lost with the aircraft.
No names or further status have been released. The Nellis AFB video media release can be seen here.
An A-10 Thunderbolt II (Warthog) crashed near Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, on Friday, according to the US Air Force. The pilot ejected and was airlifted to a hospital; locals said he complained of a back injury. As is the usual procedure, the incident will be investigated and a report issued in a month or more.
The A-10 has recently been used in Libya, most publicly attacking boats along the coast.
The Marine Times reports an AV-8B Read more…
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