Hunter Ejection and Crash in HNL
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Hunter Ejection and Crash in HNL
A civilian Hawker Hunter pilot involved in the Sentry Aloha military exercise ejected down low before his plane hit the water south of Honolulu International Airport.
Pilot seriously injured after jet crashes off Honolulu during military exercise
Pilot seriously injured after jet crashes off Honolulu during military exercise
By HNN Staff December 12, 2018 at 2:39 PM HST - Updated December 12 at 5:21 PM
(Image: Nedra Muir-Lowery)HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A military training exercise turned into a real-life test for rescuers Wednesday when a jet participating in the Sentry Aloha war games crashed off Honolulu, leaving its pilot seriously injured.
A military spokesman said the pilot was a civilian contractor, and was flying a British-made Hawker Hunter aircraft.
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam said Sentry Aloha has been temporarily suspended in the wake of the crash, which remains under investigation.
The pilot of the craft ejected moments before the crash, which happened just before 2:30 p.m. three miles south of the Reef Runway at Honolulu’s airport.Outbound flights from the airport were halted for about 20 minutes, but have since resumed.
Shortly after the crash, a parasail operator rescued the pilot and he was then picked up by a Coast Guard vessel.
Mark Ladner, of Extreme Parasail, was the good Samaritan who jumped into the water to help save the pilot.
A military spokesman said the pilot was a civilian contractor, and was flying a British-made Hawker Hunter aircraft.
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam said Sentry Aloha has been temporarily suspended in the wake of the crash, which remains under investigation.
The pilot of the craft ejected moments before the crash, which happened just before 2:30 p.m. three miles south of the Reef Runway at Honolulu’s airport.Outbound flights from the airport were halted for about 20 minutes, but have since resumed.
Shortly after the crash, a parasail operator rescued the pilot and he was then picked up by a Coast Guard vessel.
Mark Ladner, of Extreme Parasail, was the good Samaritan who jumped into the water to help save the pilot.
“When I got into the water, I was asking him, are you OK? And he said yeah, my back hurts from the compression," Ladner said. "He had a little bit of blood coming out, I think it might have been from the impact because he was going pretty fast.”Witness Nedra Muir-Lowery said they heard a “loud boom” just before the pilot ejected.
"Then we saw his parachute come out and his plane go straight into the water and basically nosedive into the water,” Muir-Lowery said.
Witnesses fishing nearby said they saw the Hawker Hunter starting to fall shortly after takeoff.
"Then we saw his parachute come out and his plane go straight into the water and basically nosedive into the water,” Muir-Lowery said.
Witnesses fishing nearby said they saw the Hawker Hunter starting to fall shortly after takeoff.
“After the pilot ejected, the plane went down in a big way,” said Brendt Chang. “The Coast Guard has been doing maneuvers here. They were doing maneuvers anyway. They were on top of the pilot within two minutes.”Chang said there was lots of fuel in the water after the crash, but very little debris.
Mark Neumann, owner of Hawaiian Parasail, said the plane crashed near one of his boats in the water.
Mark Neumann, owner of Hawaiian Parasail, said the plane crashed near one of his boats in the water.
Two people were in a parasail at the time, and the crash came too close for comfort, he said.
“My captain and crew thought it was going to hit the parachute,” he said. “It went by and right after it went by them, the pilot ejected and the plane crashed into the water real close to our boat.”
“My captain and crew thought it was going to hit the parachute,” he said. “It went by and right after it went by them, the pilot ejected and the plane crashed into the water real close to our boat.”
He said none of his crew members or customers were injured.
Paramedics said the man was in serious condition after being recovered. They described the crash as a “controlled fall," and said the man suffered unspecified traumatic injuries.
The single-seat Hawker Hunter aircraft was participating in Sentry Aloha exercises off Oahu when it got into trouble.
This undated image shows a Hawker Hunter aircraft before takeoff. (Image: ATAC)The plane was owned by Airborne Tactical Advantage Company, which is a civilian “tactical airborne training organization." A company spokesman said they are investigating.Rescuers, including the Coast Guard and members of the Honolulu Fire Department, remained at the scene of the crash into the late afternoon.
Paramedics said the man was in serious condition after being recovered. They described the crash as a “controlled fall," and said the man suffered unspecified traumatic injuries.
The single-seat Hawker Hunter aircraft was participating in Sentry Aloha exercises off Oahu when it got into trouble.
The Hawaii Air National Guard hosts Sentry Aloha. Some 800 people and 30 aircraft from nine states are participating.
The last time a military jet crashed off Honolulu was in 2008. Back then, it was a Hawaii Air National Guard F-15. The pilot was able to safely eject.
The last time a military jet crashed off Honolulu was in 2008. Back then, it was a Hawaii Air National Guard F-15. The pilot was able to safely eject.
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From the CivMilAir twitter feed a report that the aircraft down was N323AX. Sister ship N324AX orbited over the scene for several minutes after the mishap according to FR24 data. They departed HNL runway 8R in formation as ATAC 01 and the crash was offshore near the Ala Moana area.
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The company takes great pride in these gorgeous aircraft. They are meticulously maintained and flown by very experienced fighter pilots (some retired some reserve).
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The pilot has been identified by news sources as Matt 'Potzo' Pothier, a retired U.S. Navy Commander and former CAG LSO.
From a post on his wife's Facebook page, he is in good spirits and is scheduled to have T11 to T12 spinal fusion surgery at 1 pm local time (23Z) today.
As Mrs. P posted earlier:
From a post on his wife's Facebook page, he is in good spirits and is scheduled to have T11 to T12 spinal fusion surgery at 1 pm local time (23Z) today.
As Mrs. P posted earlier:
Matt had a problem with his engine during takeoff today and had to eject from his plane. For 23 years I have dreaded getting a call like I did today. Thankfully it was Matt himself who called to tell me he was alright. He is doing ok with no life threatening injuries. He has been smiling and laughing with all of his many visitors.
sandiego89, you read my mind! 
Hoisted them onto a Navy ship headed to the islands is one possibility. Not that unusual, saw an image on a thread here recently with a couple of short legged aircraft catching a ride on a LPH enroute to Hawaii.
Another example of the enduring efficacy of the MB seat systems. Mk 4? Basically unchanged since the early 50s
He might have back issues, but he is still alive....
speedy recovery, fella!
He might have back issues, but he is still alive....
speedy recovery, fella!
Probably a Mk2 or Mk3? The T7 had the Mk4, but the F6 and FGA9 had the old 2-harness 1950s era bang seats. Which, although intended to save life, usually inflicted back problems on the lucky survivors...
I remember talking in 1979 with the pilot of the Tintagel Hunter, who was similarly damaged by one of the early seats. His ejection sequence was watched by a chap in a small fishing boat who had just retired after 30+ years with Martin Baker! He told me that he wished there had been a dial-down selector on the seat so that you didn’t get the full charge for a premeditated ejection.
That episode and Ray K’s (earlier?) Lightning ejection at Valley prompted the change to all FRCs that included winding in half aileron trim before stepping over the side.
That episode and Ray K’s (earlier?) Lightning ejection at Valley prompted the change to all FRCs that included winding in half aileron trim before stepping over the side.
Actually, as a Norn Irner, RFK said that he set up the jet to track the Dublin ILS before committing to the black and yellow!
RIP RFK!
RIP RFK!
Interesting history. No doubt she's been handled by many ppruners:
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Hawker Hunter F.58A, s/n J-4101 SwiAF, c/n 41H-679995, c/r N323AX
I hope I have the right airplane.
Later Swiss J-4101, I believe.
Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Hawker Hunter F.58A, s/n J-4101 SwiAF, c/n 41H-679995, c/r N323AX
I hope I have the right airplane.
Later Swiss J-4101, I believe.
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An upbeat Facebook update from Potzo 
:
:
Thank you so much everyone for your kind thoughts, wishes, and prayers. A big thanks to the first responders and medical teams who have been taking great care of me. I'm a little loopy post surgery, but I'm going to try and respond as soon as I can. BTW, phone was trashed so I'm missing anything sent to my 808 for now. Much love to my wife Carri Collins-Pothier kids and extended Ohana. You'll see me in the skies, the water, and the rink soon. A Hui Ho!