Originally Posted by
Flap62
Are we really getting to a state now where pilots think the can whang the stick about, no matter what height or energy level you are at and the jet will sort it out? Unbelievable
The report talks about the visual illusions with the false horizon and the guy didn't know he was climbing and thought he was pulling roughly level with more speed in hand. The flight control system at high AoA is not that helpful with its desire for 1G even when in a spin, compounded by the aft CofG and whatever radome induced issues carried on the jet. Use of rudder at high AoA is an F-15 thing due to the reduced roll authority, as is the use of asymmetric thrust.
With the departure warning tones and the nose wandering the forward stick unload probably felt like the right call and is the one called for in the cards, but the aircraft had departed with negative G and with abundance of hindsight an aft stick input was needed. This type of departure was not reflected in the drills nor was it practised in sim.
The guy whacked into the sea without a fully-developed canopy after the ejection seat modes also worked against him. It must have hurt like hell and he did well to survive and see his young family again.