F/A-18 crash at NAS Key West
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F/A-18 crash at NAS Key West
Navy F/A-18 jet crashes in Key West
By Gwen Filosa
[email protected]
March 14, 2018 05:59 PM
A U. S. Navy F/A-18 fighter jet crashed in the water on the property of Naval Air Station Key West late Wednesday afternoon.
At around 4:30 p.m., one pilot ejected from the jet, according to Adam Linhardt, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office spokesman. It’s unclear if there were one or two crewmembers in the plane.
Witnesses said it appeared the plane had some sort of explosion in the air.
“I saw the fire and then it just dropped,” said Barbie Wilson, who lives nearby and was driving when she saw the plane turn sideways and then burst into flames.
“In the air, I saw fire,” Wilson said.
By Gwen Filosa
[email protected]
March 14, 2018 05:59 PM
A U. S. Navy F/A-18 fighter jet crashed in the water on the property of Naval Air Station Key West late Wednesday afternoon.
At around 4:30 p.m., one pilot ejected from the jet, according to Adam Linhardt, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office spokesman. It’s unclear if there were one or two crewmembers in the plane.
Witnesses said it appeared the plane had some sort of explosion in the air.
“I saw the fire and then it just dropped,” said Barbie Wilson, who lives nearby and was driving when she saw the plane turn sideways and then burst into flames.
“In the air, I saw fire,” Wilson said.
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Navy F-18 jet crashes in Key West | FL Keys News
By Gwen Filosa And David Goodhue
[email protected]
[email protected]
March 14, 2018 05:59 PM
Updated 3 minutes ago
A U. S. Navy F/A-18F fighter jet crashed in the water on the property of Naval Air Station Key West late Wednesday afternoon.
The plane is a two-seater and both crew members ejected alive, said Cmdr. Dave Hecht, public affairs officer for Naval Air Force Atlantic.
Their medical condition as of 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night was “status unknown,” Hecht said.
“The plane was on approach,” he said.
[email protected]
[email protected]
March 14, 2018 05:59 PM
Updated 3 minutes ago
A U. S. Navy F/A-18F fighter jet crashed in the water on the property of Naval Air Station Key West late Wednesday afternoon.
The plane is a two-seater and both crew members ejected alive, said Cmdr. Dave Hecht, public affairs officer for Naval Air Force Atlantic.
Their medical condition as of 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night was “status unknown,” Hecht said.
“The plane was on approach,” he said.
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Some sad news 
:
:
Lucas Tomlinson
@LucasFoxNews
BREAKING: Navy says both aviators killed in F/A-18 Super Hornet crash off Key West, Florida this afternoon
@LucasFoxNews
BREAKING: Navy says both aviators killed in F/A-18 Super Hornet crash off Key West, Florida this afternoon
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The aircraft was from VFA-213 based at Navy Oceana.
Statement from AIRLANT:
Statement from AIRLANT:
F/A-18F Crash Off Coast of Florida
An F/A-18F Super Hornet crashed on final approach to Boca Chica Field, Naval Air Station, Key West, Florida at approximately 4:30 pm eastern time today.
Search and rescue crews were notified shortly after the crash where they recovered both the pilot and weapons systems officer from the water approximately one mile east of the runway. Both were taken by ambulance to Lower Keys Medical Center.
Both aviators have been declared deceased. Per Department of Defense policy, the names of the aviators are being withheld until 24 hours after next-of- kin notification.
The F/A-18F is a dual-seated aircraft assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VFA-213) based at Naval Air Station Oceana and was conducting a training flight.
The cause of the mishap is currently under investigation.
An F/A-18F Super Hornet crashed on final approach to Boca Chica Field, Naval Air Station, Key West, Florida at approximately 4:30 pm eastern time today.
Search and rescue crews were notified shortly after the crash where they recovered both the pilot and weapons systems officer from the water approximately one mile east of the runway. Both were taken by ambulance to Lower Keys Medical Center.
Both aviators have been declared deceased. Per Department of Defense policy, the names of the aviators are being withheld until 24 hours after next-of- kin notification.
The F/A-18F is a dual-seated aircraft assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VFA-213) based at Naval Air Station Oceana and was conducting a training flight.
The cause of the mishap is currently under investigation.
Very sad - how do you bang out successfully but not survive?
Outside seat envelope? Condolences to those involved and affected.
Outside seat envelope? Condolences to those involved and affected.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Hard to tell without knowing the nature of the emergency and what happened on finals. It could have been something which caused a loss of control and a roll or inversion outside limits.
@Marty:
Training sortie or a real one engine out approach?
For the crew:
You fly now with the angels, my friends. RIP.
From Eternal Father:
O Spirit, whom the Father sent
To spread abroad the firmament.
Oh wind of heaven, by Thy might
Save all who dare the eagle's flight.
And keep them by thy watchful care
From every peril in the air
Training sortie or a real one engine out approach?
For the crew:
You fly now with the angels, my friends. RIP.
From Eternal Father:
O Spirit, whom the Father sent
To spread abroad the firmament.
Oh wind of heaven, by Thy might
Save all who dare the eagle's flight.
And keep them by thy watchful care
From every peril in the air
Sad sad day. RIP folks. 😢
All sorts of possibilities leading to successful ejection but no 'Survival' .....especially rolling at low altitude. I do hope it's not as a result of 'practicing' asymmetric approaches. Surely that lesson has been hard learned by now?
All sorts of possibilities leading to successful ejection but no 'Survival' .....especially rolling at low altitude. I do hope it's not as a result of 'practicing' asymmetric approaches. Surely that lesson has been hard learned by now?
Agreed, Oldman.
The roll can make a helluva difference upon your survival. So you get a half open chute but still hit the ground or water hard enuf to break things.
The guy before me with the leading edge flap failure slowed down to "flare' but did not realize the amount of increased yaw moment and decrease of roll authority as he slowed. he ejected at a serious roll angle so didn't make it. We knew that he didn't make it, but did not get a good debrief from the EPG country involved on all the details. Years later I got the "word" from someone on "F-16.net" and thanked God one more time for my successful landing with that flap folded up.
My bio on the forum has the video of the landing. I started to get slow, but kept speed up and simply "planted" the jet on the runway.
Our seats are really good, but still have some envelopes, even today.
The crash results of this one sucks, simple as that.
Gums sends...
The roll can make a helluva difference upon your survival. So you get a half open chute but still hit the ground or water hard enuf to break things.
The guy before me with the leading edge flap failure slowed down to "flare' but did not realize the amount of increased yaw moment and decrease of roll authority as he slowed. he ejected at a serious roll angle so didn't make it. We knew that he didn't make it, but did not get a good debrief from the EPG country involved on all the details. Years later I got the "word" from someone on "F-16.net" and thanked God one more time for my successful landing with that flap folded up.
My bio on the forum has the video of the landing. I started to get slow, but kept speed up and simply "planted" the jet on the runway.
Our seats are really good, but still have some envelopes, even today.
The crash results of this one sucks, simple as that.
Gums sends...
Last edited by gums; 16th Mar 2018 at 15:52. Reason: graphic
Good lord Gums, trying to envision what control inputs you must of had to keep her wings level.
I’m sure an adult libation or two was consumed after the fact.
I’m sure an adult libation or two was consumed after the fact.
Unlikely - in addition to rumour mill (one donk failed, then the other), photos show the wreckage with the hook extended, suggesting he was going to take the wire (perhaps because he had no braking capability following the first engine failure).
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Photos of our fallen aviators in the article linked below.
Navy identifies 2 aviators killed in F/A-18 jet crash off Key West | Fox News
Navy identifies 2 aviators killed in F/A-18 jet crash off Key West
By Stephen Sorace | Fox News
The U.S. Navy has identified the two aviators who died Wednesday after their F/A-18F Super Hornet jet crashed off the coast of Key West, Fla.
The aviators have been identified as Lt. Cmdr. James Brice Johnson and Lt. Caleb Nathaniel King, who served in the “Blacklions” of Strike Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VFA-213), the Naval Air Force Atlantic said in a news release Thursday.
“The entire Blacklion Family is grieving the loss of two great Americans. Lt. Cmdr. Johnson and Lt. King were phenomenal young men, exceptional Naval Aviators, and were living models of what Honor, Courage, and Commitment really mean,” said VFA-213’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Kevin Robb.
Johnson was piloting the jet, while King served as the weapons systems operator, the Navy said.
King also played inside linebacker for the football team at the U.S. Naval Academy from 2009 to 2011, appearing in 38 games, the Capital Gazette of Annapolis, Md., reported.
Upon their final approach to Boca Chica Field at Naval Air Station Key West, the aviators ejected from the twin-engine jet, which crashed around 4:30 p.m. A source told Fox News that the jet was flying back on one engine when it lost the other at low altitude.
"As warfighters they excelled in combat, as Naval Officers they exemplified the qualities of what our Navy values most dear,” Robb said. “I was extremely proud to have led, flown, and served with both Brice and Caleb.”
Johnson graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2007 while King graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2012. They were both Florida residents based at Naval Air Station Oceana and assigned to Carrier Air Wing Eight.
According to the Navy’s statement, the Super Hornet remains in the water at the crash site while a Mishap Investigation Board continues its investigation.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and squadron mates of these two aviators," said Rear Adm. Roy J. Kelley, Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic. "A full investigation will be conducted to discover the cause of this mishap."
By Stephen Sorace | Fox News
The U.S. Navy has identified the two aviators who died Wednesday after their F/A-18F Super Hornet jet crashed off the coast of Key West, Fla.
The aviators have been identified as Lt. Cmdr. James Brice Johnson and Lt. Caleb Nathaniel King, who served in the “Blacklions” of Strike Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VFA-213), the Naval Air Force Atlantic said in a news release Thursday.
“The entire Blacklion Family is grieving the loss of two great Americans. Lt. Cmdr. Johnson and Lt. King were phenomenal young men, exceptional Naval Aviators, and were living models of what Honor, Courage, and Commitment really mean,” said VFA-213’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Kevin Robb.
Johnson was piloting the jet, while King served as the weapons systems operator, the Navy said.
King also played inside linebacker for the football team at the U.S. Naval Academy from 2009 to 2011, appearing in 38 games, the Capital Gazette of Annapolis, Md., reported.
Upon their final approach to Boca Chica Field at Naval Air Station Key West, the aviators ejected from the twin-engine jet, which crashed around 4:30 p.m. A source told Fox News that the jet was flying back on one engine when it lost the other at low altitude.
"As warfighters they excelled in combat, as Naval Officers they exemplified the qualities of what our Navy values most dear,” Robb said. “I was extremely proud to have led, flown, and served with both Brice and Caleb.”
Johnson graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2007 while King graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2012. They were both Florida residents based at Naval Air Station Oceana and assigned to Carrier Air Wing Eight.
According to the Navy’s statement, the Super Hornet remains in the water at the crash site while a Mishap Investigation Board continues its investigation.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and squadron mates of these two aviators," said Rear Adm. Roy J. Kelley, Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic. "A full investigation will be conducted to discover the cause of this mishap."
Tnx, Bubba,
The hook may have been down for two reasons.
- approach trap at reasonable speed
- departure end due to high speed on one motor
My VooDoo single engine approach speed was so high that the drag chute would rip off if you pulled the handle too soon. And our hook was a wimpy thing for the other end of the rwy at a slow speed.
On my LEF failure I advised tower that I might need the other end trap because I was 40 knots above normal approach for weight, etc. I had no idea of the immense drag until after planting the thing and slowing down without a touch of brakes. Mid-field turnoff as you can see on the video.
Whole incident disturbs me, and my feeling is the hydraulics or whatever went tits up and the jet rolled real quick.
I can tell you that my LEF did not fold until I was passing 160 knots or so on takeoff, just as gear coming up. I stopped at about 180 or 190 due to vibration and uncommanded roll tendency to assess the situation and stayed there! You know, still flying so don't change much. Turned out I had about 1 pound of roll authority, and almost blew it at the end if I had slowed down below 170 knots. Our Vipers had recorders and the engineers could see what control pressures I used, and when.
I feel bad about those guys, and I hope the thing was complete loss of control due to motors or other things, and not a late decision.
So Gums throws a nickel on the grass, actually two.
The hook may have been down for two reasons.
- approach trap at reasonable speed
- departure end due to high speed on one motor
My VooDoo single engine approach speed was so high that the drag chute would rip off if you pulled the handle too soon. And our hook was a wimpy thing for the other end of the rwy at a slow speed.
On my LEF failure I advised tower that I might need the other end trap because I was 40 knots above normal approach for weight, etc. I had no idea of the immense drag until after planting the thing and slowing down without a touch of brakes. Mid-field turnoff as you can see on the video.
Whole incident disturbs me, and my feeling is the hydraulics or whatever went tits up and the jet rolled real quick.
I can tell you that my LEF did not fold until I was passing 160 knots or so on takeoff, just as gear coming up. I stopped at about 180 or 190 due to vibration and uncommanded roll tendency to assess the situation and stayed there! You know, still flying so don't change much. Turned out I had about 1 pound of roll authority, and almost blew it at the end if I had slowed down below 170 knots. Our Vipers had recorders and the engineers could see what control pressures I used, and when.
I feel bad about those guys, and I hope the thing was complete loss of control due to motors or other things, and not a late decision.
So Gums throws a nickel on the grass, actually two.
Last edited by gums; 16th Mar 2018 at 22:53. Reason: Spelling
The roll can make a helluva difference upon your survival. So you get a half open chute but still hit the ground or water hard enuf to break things.
The guy before me with the leading edge flap failure slowed down to "flare' but did not realize the amount of increased yaw moment and decrease of roll authority as he slowed. he ejected at a serious roll angle so didn't make it. .
The guy before me with the leading edge flap failure slowed down to "flare' but did not realize the amount of increased yaw moment and decrease of roll authority as he slowed. he ejected at a serious roll angle so didn't make it. .
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Hi Gums,
can you please elaborate on your phrase of 'throwing a nickel on the grass', it is not something I have heard before and am curious of the meaning / inference.
Cheers Paul
can you please elaborate on your phrase of 'throwing a nickel on the grass', it is not something I have heard before and am curious of the meaning / inference.
Cheers Paul