Seatbelt came undone before Snowbird crash
Updated Mon. Aug. 20 2007 9:35 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
A report into the fatal crash of a jet from the Snowbirds aerobatic squadron says the pilot lost control of his plane when his seatbelt became unfastened.
Capt. Shawn McCaughey was killed May 18 during an air show practice at Malmstrom Air Force Base near Great Falls, Mont.
The interim investigator's report says McCaughey was flying upside down during a pre-show practice session when his seatbelt came unfastened, he fell out of his seat and lost control of his Tutor jet.
"What we're talking about is an interference between a component that leads from the parachute to the seatbelt buckle," said Air Force Col. Christopher Shelley, director of flight safety, speaking with CTV's Jill Macyshon from Air Force headquarters in Ottawa. "That component seemed to interfere with the locking mechanism of the seatbelt." .......
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...ub=CTVNewsAt11
.