Navy F/A-18 crashes in Virginia Beach 6 Apr 12
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http://www.navytimes.com/news/2012/04/navy-hornet-crash-virginia-beach-040612w/
Friday Apr 6, 2012 12:59:02 EDT
An F/A-18 has crashed into an apartment complex in Virginia Beach, according to news reports.
A two-seat Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 106 crashed near Birdneck Road, The Virginian-Pilot reports.
The squadron is a training squadron for student pilots, according to reports.
Crash witnesses say the plane slammed into an apartment building.
Friday Apr 6, 2012 12:59:02 EDT
An F/A-18 has crashed into an apartment complex in Virginia Beach, according to news reports.
A two-seat Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 106 crashed near Birdneck Road, The Virginian-Pilot reports.
The squadron is a training squadron for student pilots, according to reports.
Crash witnesses say the plane slammed into an apartment building.
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Video: http://www.chicagotribune.com/videogallery/69250304/live/LIVE-VIDEO-f-18-crash-in-Virginia-Beach-VA
Military fighter plane crashes in Virginia
By Mike Holtzclaw Daily Press
12:16 p.m. CDT, April 6, 2012
VIRGINIA BEACH—
A plane crashed in Virginia Beach near Naval Air Station Oceana just after noon on Friday.
A Navy spokesman has confirmed to the media that the plane that crashed was an F/A-18 Hornet - a two-seat jet belonging to VFA (Strike Fighter Squadron) 106.
Sgt. Michelle Anaya of state police confirmed that the plane crashed.
Two pilots have been transported to the hospital. There has been no word on injuries according to Tim Riley of the Virginia Beach Police Department. He stated that the two pilots ejected from the jet.
Rescue crews from Virginia Beach are on the scene of a two-alarm fire at the Mayfair View apartment complex. There have been no reports of injuries or casualties.
Sean Pepe, of Norfolk, and Kenny Carver, of Hampton were driving on Interstate 264 when they saw the jet seem to be "floating" in the air before it went down behind some trees.
“It was odd, but we didn’t think anything of it,” Pepe said. “We thought it was doing maneuvers. We were watching the plane but didn’t see the impact. We saw it go down and there was a 'boom.' Then there was black smoke everywhere."
Military fighter plane crashes in Virginia
By Mike Holtzclaw Daily Press
12:16 p.m. CDT, April 6, 2012
VIRGINIA BEACH—
A plane crashed in Virginia Beach near Naval Air Station Oceana just after noon on Friday.
A Navy spokesman has confirmed to the media that the plane that crashed was an F/A-18 Hornet - a two-seat jet belonging to VFA (Strike Fighter Squadron) 106.
Sgt. Michelle Anaya of state police confirmed that the plane crashed.
Two pilots have been transported to the hospital. There has been no word on injuries according to Tim Riley of the Virginia Beach Police Department. He stated that the two pilots ejected from the jet.
Rescue crews from Virginia Beach are on the scene of a two-alarm fire at the Mayfair View apartment complex. There have been no reports of injuries or casualties.
Sean Pepe, of Norfolk, and Kenny Carver, of Hampton were driving on Interstate 264 when they saw the jet seem to be "floating" in the air before it went down behind some trees.
“It was odd, but we didn’t think anything of it,” Pepe said. “We thought it was doing maneuvers. We were watching the plane but didn’t see the impact. We saw it go down and there was a 'boom.' Then there was black smoke everywhere."
Snakedoc
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Yikes, I hope there are no fatalities/injuries..
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20120406/virginia-beach-jet-crash-120406/
CTVNews.ca Staff
Date: Fri. Apr. 6 2012 2:06 PM ET
Two pilots ejected to safety moment before a U.S. Navy jet slammed into an apartment complex near Virginia Beach.
The U.S. Navy confirmed that an F/A-18 Hornet crashed into the residential area shortly after noon on Friday.
Two pilots ejected to safety after the plane encountered difficulties shortly after takeoff.
The Navy says both pilots were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Details on other injuries in the crash were not immediately available.
"We are taking all possible steps at the state level to provide immediate resources and assistance to those impacted by the crash of an F-18 fighter jet in Virginia Beach," Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said in a statement.
"We are monitoring events carefully as they unfold and State Police resources are now on the scene. Our fervent prayer is that no one was injured or killed in this accident."
Images of the crash site quickly spread through social media. On photograph posted to Twitter showed the flaming tail of the plane smoldering near the brick exterior of a residential building.
The apartment complex comprises six low-rise apartment buildings and it appears the jet collided with at least two of the buildings.
Witnesses told CNN that the jet appeared to coming toward them like it was going to try to land and appeared to be dumping jet fuel as it descended.
The jet involved in the crash was an F-18 with Strike Fighter Squadron 106 – also known as the Gladiators – stationed at Virginia's Naval Air Station Oceana.
The crash occurred in the area of Interstate 264 and Laskin Road, a Virginia Beach neigbourhood just a few miles from the naval air station.
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20120406/virginia-beach-jet-crash-120406/
CTVNews.ca Staff
Date: Fri. Apr. 6 2012 2:06 PM ET
Two pilots ejected to safety moment before a U.S. Navy jet slammed into an apartment complex near Virginia Beach.
The U.S. Navy confirmed that an F/A-18 Hornet crashed into the residential area shortly after noon on Friday.
Two pilots ejected to safety after the plane encountered difficulties shortly after takeoff.
The Navy says both pilots were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Details on other injuries in the crash were not immediately available.
"We are taking all possible steps at the state level to provide immediate resources and assistance to those impacted by the crash of an F-18 fighter jet in Virginia Beach," Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said in a statement.
"We are monitoring events carefully as they unfold and State Police resources are now on the scene. Our fervent prayer is that no one was injured or killed in this accident."
Images of the crash site quickly spread through social media. On photograph posted to Twitter showed the flaming tail of the plane smoldering near the brick exterior of a residential building.
The apartment complex comprises six low-rise apartment buildings and it appears the jet collided with at least two of the buildings.
Witnesses told CNN that the jet appeared to coming toward them like it was going to try to land and appeared to be dumping jet fuel as it descended.
The jet involved in the crash was an F-18 with Strike Fighter Squadron 106 – also known as the Gladiators – stationed at Virginia's Naval Air Station Oceana.
The crash occurred in the area of Interstate 264 and Laskin Road, a Virginia Beach neigbourhood just a few miles from the naval air station.
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Student pilot and instructor on board.They stayed with the plane as long as possible to avoid a nearby school. First responders did a great job.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2012/04/navy-hornet-crash-virginia-beach-040612w/
An F/A-18D Hornet from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., crashed Friday into a two-story apartment building in nearby Virginia Beach.
The pilot and naval flight officer ejected safely and were taken to a local hospital for observation, Navy officials said.
There was “significant disruption” to the buildings, said Battalion Chief Tim Riley, a Virginia Beach Fire Department spokesman.
Cheri Hinschelwood, a spokeswoman for Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital, said the medical center has treated six patients tied to the crash, including the two aviators, three civilians, and another civilian who was treated and released.
Two of the patients suffered from smoke inhalation and another passed out. One of the aviators was in fair condition and the other in good condition mid-afternoon Friday, the hospital said in a statement.
In the last two years, local emergency services have had two off-site training drills with the Navy, Riley said. “It’s integrated into our system,” he said. “Unfortunately, today it’s come to fruition.”
The aircraft was from Strike Fighter Squadron 106, a Hornet flight replacement squadron. An FRS trains aviators to fly a specific airframe. It crashed about 12:05 p.m., shortly after takeoff.
“We will conduct a complete investigation into the cause of this mishap and share all information we have as soon as we are able to do so,” said Adm. John Harvey, commander of Fleet Forces Command.
Former Navy SEAL Patrick McAleenan, who was a block away at his home when the plane crashed, said the sound was unmistakable and the vibrations made his house shake.
“I knew it was an aircraft. They fly over all the time. I knew it was an aircraft,” he said in a phone interview.
He said the pilots ejected at the last possible second in an apparent effort to make sure that the plane would not crash into a nearby school.
McAleenan said that the aviators appeared to be safe, considering the circumstances.
“One of them, literally, his parachute hung on a balcony. The people on the ground were dragging him to safety,” he said.
The F/A-18’s tail section was intact, lying in the apartment building’s courtyard, he said.
“There’s fire crews. There are lines. Everybody is helping everybody. The lines are charged and ready, and it looks like they are looking to see if there are any casualties or survivors and assessing the damage,” McAleenan said.
Virginia State Police also were on the scene, providing traffic guidance and controlling the perimeter.
So far this year, there have been at least two F/A-18 Class A mishaps, the most serious type of accident. The latest was an F/A-18C crash Feb 26 in Bahrain. Two days earlier, an F/A-18F crashed during a routine training mission in Fallon, Nev.
Off-base crashes have caused the military legal problems. In 2008 a Marine Corps Hornet crashed into a San Diego home, killing four. The pilot safely ejected. In December a federal judge awarded the surviving family of the victims $17.8 million. Two homes were burned in the crash.
The Corps said the plane had mechanical problems, but bad decisions by a student pilot prevented what could have been a safe landing at a naval base.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2012/04/navy-hornet-crash-virginia-beach-040612w/
An F/A-18D Hornet from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., crashed Friday into a two-story apartment building in nearby Virginia Beach.
The pilot and naval flight officer ejected safely and were taken to a local hospital for observation, Navy officials said.
There was “significant disruption” to the buildings, said Battalion Chief Tim Riley, a Virginia Beach Fire Department spokesman.
Cheri Hinschelwood, a spokeswoman for Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital, said the medical center has treated six patients tied to the crash, including the two aviators, three civilians, and another civilian who was treated and released.
Two of the patients suffered from smoke inhalation and another passed out. One of the aviators was in fair condition and the other in good condition mid-afternoon Friday, the hospital said in a statement.
In the last two years, local emergency services have had two off-site training drills with the Navy, Riley said. “It’s integrated into our system,” he said. “Unfortunately, today it’s come to fruition.”
The aircraft was from Strike Fighter Squadron 106, a Hornet flight replacement squadron. An FRS trains aviators to fly a specific airframe. It crashed about 12:05 p.m., shortly after takeoff.
“We will conduct a complete investigation into the cause of this mishap and share all information we have as soon as we are able to do so,” said Adm. John Harvey, commander of Fleet Forces Command.
Former Navy SEAL Patrick McAleenan, who was a block away at his home when the plane crashed, said the sound was unmistakable and the vibrations made his house shake.
“I knew it was an aircraft. They fly over all the time. I knew it was an aircraft,” he said in a phone interview.
He said the pilots ejected at the last possible second in an apparent effort to make sure that the plane would not crash into a nearby school.
McAleenan said that the aviators appeared to be safe, considering the circumstances.
“One of them, literally, his parachute hung on a balcony. The people on the ground were dragging him to safety,” he said.
The F/A-18’s tail section was intact, lying in the apartment building’s courtyard, he said.
“There’s fire crews. There are lines. Everybody is helping everybody. The lines are charged and ready, and it looks like they are looking to see if there are any casualties or survivors and assessing the damage,” McAleenan said.
Virginia State Police also were on the scene, providing traffic guidance and controlling the perimeter.
So far this year, there have been at least two F/A-18 Class A mishaps, the most serious type of accident. The latest was an F/A-18C crash Feb 26 in Bahrain. Two days earlier, an F/A-18F crashed during a routine training mission in Fallon, Nev.
Off-base crashes have caused the military legal problems. In 2008 a Marine Corps Hornet crashed into a San Diego home, killing four. The pilot safely ejected. In December a federal judge awarded the surviving family of the victims $17.8 million. Two homes were burned in the crash.
The Corps said the plane had mechanical problems, but bad decisions by a student pilot prevented what could have been a safe landing at a naval base.
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The link below shows the location of the crash. Point A is the end of the runway at Oceania, Point B is the crash site.
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=36.827562,+-76.025147&daddr=36.848848,-76.001928&hl=en&ll=36.836973,-76.006079&spn=0.039293,0.063429&sll=36.849638,-76.000661&sspn=0.004911,0.007929&t=h&mra=me&mrsp=1,0&sz=17&z=14
Also the link below is from WTOP (a DC news radio site) with some additional details and video from first responders of the site.
http://wtop.com/?nid=120&sid=2817813
Additional Links to the Washington Post's stories
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-beach-neighborhood/2012/04/06/gIQALyFzzS_story.html
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=36.827562,+-76.025147&daddr=36.848848,-76.001928&hl=en&ll=36.836973,-76.006079&spn=0.039293,0.063429&sll=36.849638,-76.000661&sspn=0.004911,0.007929&t=h&mra=me&mrsp=1,0&sz=17&z=14
Also the link below is from WTOP (a DC news radio site) with some additional details and video from first responders of the site.
http://wtop.com/?nid=120&sid=2817813
Additional Links to the Washington Post's stories
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-beach-neighborhood/2012/04/06/gIQALyFzzS_story.html
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A
aesop081
Guest
The CBC comments retard brigade has it all figured out, of course.
J
jollyjacktar
Guest
That, is a significant understatement. Looks like they were only seconds away from Oceana, glad that no-one was killed in the crash. Speedy recovery to the injured, BZ to the crew for staying with the bird as long as they could.tomahawk6 said:
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US Navy investigators say that the aircraft suffered a rare dual engine failure. Cause is still unknown, but they have ruled out pilot error, and are praising the pilot for doing all that could be done to prevent a major loss of life.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/navy-dual-engine-malfunctions-caused-jet-crash-into-va-beach-apartment-complex/2012/07/02/gJQAATnYIW_story.html?hpid=z3
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/navy-dual-engine-malfunctions-caused-jet-crash-into-va-beach-apartment-complex/2012/07/02/gJQAATnYIW_story.html?hpid=z3
- Reaction score
- 2,230
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More info than posted above.
http://defensetech.org/2012/07/04/mishap-hornet-crew-guessed-wrong/
Mishap Hornet Crew Guessed Wrong
The Navy released the official findings about what caused an F/A-18 Hornet to crash into an apartment complex shortly after takeoff from NAS Oceana in April. And in rolling out the results, they “buried the lead,” as we say in the news business.
“We have never had a dual, unrelated engine failure in the F/A-18 Hornet,” said Rear Adm. Ted Branch, commander of Naval Air Force Atlantic, calling the event “extraordinarily unusual.”
“We don’t have a smoking gun, a definitive source of the malfunction.”
As reported in the Virginian-Pilot after 25 seconds of flight, having reached an altitude of 452 feet, the plane started its descent. Pressure on the stick and a favorable gust of wind slowed its fall for a few seconds but, after 50 seconds of flight, the plane was at an altitude of 270 feet and dropping. When it was about 100 feet above the ground, the plane began rolling and yawing, and the pilot was no longer able to control its movement. At 50 feet above the ground, the crew ejected.
Adm. Branch briefed that mishap investigators ruled that the right engine failed at takeoff due to a fuel leak. The crew felt some thumps and the weapons system officer in the backseat (an instructor) told the pilot (a student) to keep the gear down because he thought they’d blown a tire. He also told the pilot to push the left engine throttle to full afterburner, but when the pilot complied the afterburner didn’t light.
Branch said that the afterburner probably failed because of a problem with its fuel system, but that it’s impossible to know the exact reason because so much of the jet was destroyed.
“While I recognize that these gaps are less than satisfying, we have very high confidence in the F/A-18 airframe, and in the F404 engine in the legacy Hornet,” Branch said. The Navy has been flying the Hornet for over 30 years, he said, “and we have found it to be an extremely safe and reliable aircraft.”
But the empirical truth is the crew misdiagnosed the cause of the malfunction in that no tires had blown. Had the pilot raised the gear and jettisoned the drop tank (and let’s assume that would happen inside the field boundary to avoid hurting people or damaging property) he could have kept the airplane airborne with the left engine at military power.
The report said the original malfunction gave the crew about 10 seconds to diagnose the problem and react. Choose correctly and fly away. Choose incorrectly and turn an apartment complex into a fiery mass.
As Charlie said to Maverick in the greatest movie ever made, “You made the wrong choice.”
The good news is the crew survived with minor injuries and — a bigger miracle — nobody on the ground was hurt.
Both the pilot and WSO were cleared of any wrongdoing. Their judgement was ruled reasonable considering all the circumstances they faced and evidence they were dealing with at the time.
So if you think this aviating stuff is easy in the era of high-tech, think again.
http://defensetech.org/2012/07/04/mishap-hornet-crew-guessed-wrong/
Mishap Hornet Crew Guessed Wrong
The Navy released the official findings about what caused an F/A-18 Hornet to crash into an apartment complex shortly after takeoff from NAS Oceana in April. And in rolling out the results, they “buried the lead,” as we say in the news business.
“We have never had a dual, unrelated engine failure in the F/A-18 Hornet,” said Rear Adm. Ted Branch, commander of Naval Air Force Atlantic, calling the event “extraordinarily unusual.”
“We don’t have a smoking gun, a definitive source of the malfunction.”
As reported in the Virginian-Pilot after 25 seconds of flight, having reached an altitude of 452 feet, the plane started its descent. Pressure on the stick and a favorable gust of wind slowed its fall for a few seconds but, after 50 seconds of flight, the plane was at an altitude of 270 feet and dropping. When it was about 100 feet above the ground, the plane began rolling and yawing, and the pilot was no longer able to control its movement. At 50 feet above the ground, the crew ejected.
Adm. Branch briefed that mishap investigators ruled that the right engine failed at takeoff due to a fuel leak. The crew felt some thumps and the weapons system officer in the backseat (an instructor) told the pilot (a student) to keep the gear down because he thought they’d blown a tire. He also told the pilot to push the left engine throttle to full afterburner, but when the pilot complied the afterburner didn’t light.
Branch said that the afterburner probably failed because of a problem with its fuel system, but that it’s impossible to know the exact reason because so much of the jet was destroyed.
“While I recognize that these gaps are less than satisfying, we have very high confidence in the F/A-18 airframe, and in the F404 engine in the legacy Hornet,” Branch said. The Navy has been flying the Hornet for over 30 years, he said, “and we have found it to be an extremely safe and reliable aircraft.”
But the empirical truth is the crew misdiagnosed the cause of the malfunction in that no tires had blown. Had the pilot raised the gear and jettisoned the drop tank (and let’s assume that would happen inside the field boundary to avoid hurting people or damaging property) he could have kept the airplane airborne with the left engine at military power.
The report said the original malfunction gave the crew about 10 seconds to diagnose the problem and react. Choose correctly and fly away. Choose incorrectly and turn an apartment complex into a fiery mass.
As Charlie said to Maverick in the greatest movie ever made, “You made the wrong choice.”
The good news is the crew survived with minor injuries and — a bigger miracle — nobody on the ground was hurt.
Both the pilot and WSO were cleared of any wrongdoing. Their judgement was ruled reasonable considering all the circumstances they faced and evidence they were dealing with at the time.
So if you think this aviating stuff is easy in the era of high-tech, think again.
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