At about 2,000 feet, 51° nose-low, accelerating through 604 knots/0.95 Mach (695 mph) at near sea level, with only two seconds left before impact, he yanks the ejection handle. The seat fires. The wind blast hits like a wall of concrete.....

X.com ^ | Aug 26, 2026 | F-15 Eagle Vet🇺🇸 @F15sRdaBest

[ransomnote]

F-15 Eagle Vet

@F15sRdaBest

·

23h

 

January 15, 2014. Roughly 45–50 miles off Virginia Beach. Lt. Kegan “Smurf” Gill is flying an F/A-18E Super Hornet with VFA-143 on a basic fighter maneuvers (BFM) training sortie. During a high-speed nose-low recovery (a Split-S type maneuver entered above recommended airspeed), the jet’s flight-control system enters the “G-bucket.” The aircraft incorrectly believes it is carrying bombs that are not actually loaded.

 

This protective software limit reduces available G exactly when he needs maximum pull. The stick is in his lap, the jet stops responding, and he is trapped in a steep dive pointed at the Atlantic. At about 2,000 feet, 51° nose-low, accelerating through 604 knots / 0.95 Mach (695 mph) at near sea level, with only two seconds left before impact, he yanks the ejection handle. The seat fires. The wind blast hits like a wall of concrete. Helmet ripped off. C1 vertebra in his neck broken. Left scapula shattered. Both upper arms (humeri) fractured. The right humerus tears through the brachial artery. Left forearm bones shattered and the median nerve severed. Severe open fractures in both lower legs. Traumatic brain injury from the impact with the airstream.

 

He hits 37°F water. The dry suit is shredded. The parachute fails to disconnect and repeatedly drags him under. He spends nearly two hours in the ocean fighting to stay on the surface before a Navy H-60 Seahawk and rescue swimmer pull him out. Multiple surgeries, two weeks in an induced coma, long rehab, TBI, PTSD, and a battle with prescription painkillers follow. He fights his way back into the cockpit and returns to flying Super Hornets. That’s not luck. That’s a Naval Aviator who refused to quit even after the jet, the ocean, and his own body all tried to finish the job.Thanks to @texican_1836 for reminding me of this story!

#FA18 #SuperHornet #NeverQuit #NavalAviation #AviationHistory

 

 

F-15 Eagle Vet

@F15sRdaBest

·

19h

 

@ShawnRyanShowWant to hear his firsthand account of the incident? Check out this excellent interview:

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TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: qanon

[PAR35]

entered above recommended airspeed

So, flying too fast for conditions.

[ransomnote]

F-15 Eagle Vet🇺🇸
@F15sRdaBest
·
8h
He also wrote a book which extends beyond the record and details his return to the cockpit, mental health struggles, drug addiction, VA Challenges, and the use of alternative therapies. "Phoenix Revival" The Aftermath of Naval Aviation's Fastest Ejection by: Lt. Kegan "Smurf" Gill.

[real saxophonist]

I just ordered the audiobook, narrated by LT Gill himself, on Audible. Sounds like an interesting story. Thanks

[Jeff Vader]

flying too fast for the seat to work as intended. Usual conditions for ACES II seats are above 500ft, and slower than 500 kts

[LouAvul]

Can’t be. I watched Tom Cruise eject at Mach 10 and all it did was muss up his hair a bit.

[Bigg Red]

Impressive story. Thanks for posting.

[real saxophonist]

It's a little confusing, because the post is by "F-15 Eagle Vet", but it's about a guy flying a Hornet, which has the Martin-Baker seat.

Still pretty darn fast.

[PGalt]

WOW!

[Theophilus]

He has the Right Stuff!

[Robe]

Martin-Baker... have two ties and the pins to go with’em. Thank God for Martin-Baker!

[Mr Rogers]

I’ve known several guys who ejected out of the envelope and survived. When things go to hell, one can get out of the envelope in a heartbeat. The first crash I actually saw, the F4 caught fire on takeoff. They ejected just after takeoff and the pilot got 1 swing in the chute before hitting the ground. A few years later, the WSO survived and the pilot died due to the tiny delay between when the seats fired.

A friend (WSO) survived the F4 clipping the ground while the pilot died.

[armydoc]

Have a good friend now in his ‘80s, prior Air Force Thunderbird. Prior to being a Thunderbird, he flew The enemy role in a “top gun” type unit. I don’t remember the aircraft he flew. Anyway, he found himself at supersonic speed aiming straight down at less than 10,000 ft. The training manual for this particular aircraft addressed this scenario, basically saying that you should punch out. You’re probably not going to survive the ejection, but you’re certainly not going to pull it out. Well, he yanked back on the stick, blacked out and regained consciousness, flying level at 100 ft or so. Multiple alarms and warnings going off. He landed safely. The engine had basically torn itself from its mount. Total loss. Our pilots are the best.

[alloysteel]

Coming in low, hot, blind, dead-stick, wheels up, and the glide angle of a brick - what could possibly go wrong now?

[MikelTackNailer]

God truly was his co-pilot.