Navy Plane Crashes Off N.C.; 3 Missing

Forbes ^ | August 16, 2007 | AP

[RDTF]

NORFOLK, Va. - A Navy surveillance aircraft crashed into the Atlantic during a training exercise, and crews searched Thursday for the three aviators who were aboard, authorities said.

"We're still conducting an active search and rescue mission," Navy spokesman Mike Maus said Thursday, about 12 hours after the twin-engine turbo prop plane went down in the ocean off the North Carolina coast.

The E-2C Hawkeye crashed at about 11 p.m. Wednesday, shortly after taking off from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, Maus said. He did not know whether the plane sent out a distress call.

The Truman and another Norfolk-based aircraft carrier, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, were searching for the missing aviators. A Coast Guard cutter, airplane and helicopter also were on the scene, the Coast Guard said in a statement.

-ping-

[SmoothTalker]

Prayers for a safe rescue.

[RDTF]

The Hawkeye has been in the fleet since 1964 and is a twin-engine turboprop plane. It carries a strong safety record, Navy officials said.

[RDTF]

http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=130493&ran=233730

Search continues for 3 aviators missing off carrier Truman

[Abathar]

Prayers up, at least the water is warm enough they can survive for a long time.

[WV Mountain Mama]

Prayers for their safe rescue.

[Tallguy]

Is there any way to egress that airplane in an emergency? Between the turboprop blades & the radar dish it looks like you can’t get out of it.

[pabianice]

Crew of three? Must have been a bounce hop. The normal complement is 6-7.

[pabianice]

E-2C Ditching Procedures

[Non-Sequitur]

Crew of three? Must have been a bounce hop. The normal complement is 6-7.

Normal crew is 5. But I agree, three is unusual.

[USNBandit]

The only way to jump is out the back. Back in the 90’s a crew had an electrical fire over the Med and bailed out. If you ditch the pilots have hatches over their heads they can go out.

[magslinger]

SONOBUOY PING!

Post or FReepmail me if you wish to be enlisted in or discharged from the Navair Pinglist.
This is a medium volume pinglist.

[ryan71]

I don’t ever recall an E-2C going down.

[neodad]

If given a choice, I’m sure the crew would rather ditch than bail out.

[Martins kid]

Lord guard and guide the ones who fly...

[magslinger]

Roger that.

[A.A. Cunningham]

The Hawkeye's comparatively low mishap record makes it one of the Navy's safest planes, said April Phillips, a spokeswoman for the Naval Safety Center in Norfolk. Since 1980, the Hawkeye has had 12 "Class A" mishaps, which involve either a fatality, total loss of the plane or at least $1 million in damage, Phillips said.

At least 14 people have died in E-2C crashes since 1990.

A Coast Guard E-2C caught fire and crashed near a U.S. naval station in Puerto Rico in 1990, killing all four men aboard.

In 1992, five crew members were killed when a Navy E-2C crashed into the Atlantic near Puerto Rico during a training flight.

In 1993, a Navy E-2C on its way back to a carrier crashed off the coast of Italy, killing all five crew members.

[Jonah Hex]

The Navy just announced they’re calling off the search (17 Aug 07). May God bless those who die in their nation’s service, and the loved ones they leave behind.

[Steelerfan]

Thoughts and prayers for them and their families.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping.