Swiss F/A-18D Hornet crash
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Swiss F/A-18D Hornet crash
Around 13:35 local, a Swiss Air Force F/A-18D Hornet crashed about 1km NW of Alpnach airfield. No details if the pilot(s) managed to eject prior to impact. Alpnach is a helicopter base, unrelated to jet activities these days. The Hornet operated from Meiringen airfield in central Switzerland.
Weather was rain, low cloud base. Crash location is the base of Mount Pilatus.
Press conference summary:
One pilot and one non-piloting passenger. Air Force doesn't think that there will be any survivors. Two ship formation departed Meiringen for a training mission VFR flight for one vs one dogfight. Due to poor weather the single seat Hornet climbed out of the valley and flew IFR back to base, the twin seater tried to turn back in the same fashion but crashed with terrain. No further details. Military investigation has commenced.
Weather was rain, low cloud base. Crash location is the base of Mount Pilatus.
Press conference summary:
One pilot and one non-piloting passenger. Air Force doesn't think that there will be any survivors. Two ship formation departed Meiringen for a training mission VFR flight for one vs one dogfight. Due to poor weather the single seat Hornet climbed out of the valley and flew IFR back to base, the twin seater tried to turn back in the same fashion but crashed with terrain. No further details. Military investigation has commenced.
Last edited by Rabina; 23rd Oct 2013 at 15:28. Reason: New details
Yes, sadly it looks like both crew perished 
«Es handelt sich um eine trainierte, normale Notaktion» - Schweiz: Standard - tagesanzeiger.ch
«Es handelt sich um eine trainierte, normale Notaktion» - Schweiz: Standard - tagesanzeiger.ch
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Local news coverage here is now reporting that both aircraft commenced a 180 on instruments to extricate themselves, but the surviving pilot abandoned that partway through in favour of an "emergency climbout",
Weather's been pretty dire here all day and not what one would consider VFR-friendly, unless the plan was to be training up on top.
Weather's been pretty dire here all day and not what one would consider VFR-friendly, unless the plan was to be training up on top.
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"Pilot's Bad Judgement Led To Crash"
Originally Posted by Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 23/6/2014
"The 23 October 2013 crash of the F/A-18 fighter jet with two deaths in Alpnach was due to bad judgement by the pilot. In addition, failure to make and complete a reversing maneuver is also blamed for the accident. This is the final report of the military trial judge."
Original report here for german speakers.
