US fighter jet crashes into sea

NEWS.com.au ^ | September 12, 2003 | Agence France-Presse

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

AN F/A-18 Hornet jet fighter crashed into the sea today when a cable snapped as it attempted to land on the aircraft carrier USS George Washington off Virginia, injuring several crew members on the flight deck, a navy official said.

Three of the injured crew members were flown to shore for medical treatment, said the official, who asked not to be identified.

"The aircraft crashed into the water, and the pilot safely ejected and was immediately recovered," said the official.

The mishap occurred at about 4pm local time as the George Washington was conducting operations to qualify as ready for deployment, he said.

The aircraft was making an "arrested landing" in which it must snag one of four cables strung across the flight deck to come to a stop and keep from going into the water.

The cable snapped, said a second navy official.

The incident is under investigation, the officials said.

[Normal4me]

I thought they landed at full throttle in case this were to happen. If the cable was to break (which I have never heard of) or they missed all of them, they would have enough power to make a second try. Glad the pilot is safe.

[calljack]

Unless it was almost stopped when the cable broke. Broken cable could easily cut a man in half.

[Normal4me]

Yeah, bad report. This is up above in the links:

Navy says about 12 people injured when jet skids off deck

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 — About a dozen crew members on the USS George Washington were injured Thursday when a fighter jet skidded off the deck of the aircraft carrier off the Virginia coast, a Navy spokesman said.

THE THREE MOST seriously injured crew members were airlifted to shore for medical treatment, Navy spokesman Mike Maus said. He said he did not have details on how serious their injuries were. An F/A-18 Hornet was landing on the carrier when its gear that catches an arresting cable broke off, Maus said. Flying debris injured the crew members, he said. The plane skidded off the flight deck and into the Atlantic Ocean, but the pilot ejected and was recovered safely, Maus said. The Navy is investigating the accident.

[Centurion2000]

Flying debris injured the crew members

Hate to say it but I think someone lost limbs ... those cables are nasty.

Prayers for the hurt ones.

[Pukin Dog]

Landings are not made at full throttle, but upon touchdown, the throttles are moved to full in case the hook skips the cables or a cable breaks.

Sometimes a cable will slow the plane enough before snapping, that no amount of thrust will get the plane back into the air. If the cable is intact, but the hook itself breaks, then the plane either has to divert, barracade, or ditch in the ocean anyway.

[dis.kevin]

I never saw a cable snap, but once saw an f-14 loose its tailhook after catching a wire. The aircraft rolled off the end of the angle deck and settled below the flight deck before the burners were lit and they flew out of it. The LSO was calling for the crew to eject but they both stayed with it and safely diverted. Was a real impressive save.

[Normal4me]

I stand corrected. Poor explanation on my part, but I learned everything I know from the Discover Channel so....;-)

[Pukin Dog]

Thats a little easier save in a Tomcat, which has a lot of low speed lift with the wings forward and a high AOA making the fuselage a lifting body as well. You would still have to be whipping the ponies really hard looking for 125knots before putting any G on the jet. But even those gutless TF-30's could get a Cat going pretty well off the deck.

[Pukin Dog]

Hey, dont worry about it, you were close enough. Flight ops are on the Discovery Channel? When? I would like to see how they describe it.

[jigsaw]

I stand corrected. Poor explanation on my part, but I learned everything I know from the Discover Channel so....;-)

But weren't you watching at a Holiday Inn Express?

[Trueblackman]

My God my old ship and maybe some shipmates.

[VOA]

ping... even if it's not from The Big Stick, maybe some of the folks involved might
be friends of your son-in-law...
(just based on my civilian guess that it's a relatively small fraternity of these pilots...)

[keats5]

I always wonder about the injuries. So much is left untold.

[Normal4me]

I only saw them on the "Carriers" programs on Discovery but I have seen the programs at my local library on VHS tape. I was always impressed with what we have and can do as far as military equipment. Just geeky that way I guess ;-)

[Severa]

*Lives within a few miles of NAS Oceana* wonder if this was one of our guys...

BTW I like your screen name. You guys rank right up there with the Tomcatters and the Grim Reapers as the squadrons with the best looking patches. *S*

[Pukin Dog]

Catters and Reapers? Are you sure? Reapers can barely fly being the RAG, and Catters, well they just cant hold a candle to the dogs'.

If you fly Cats these days, you live near Oceana. Me being partial to the west now that I am out, I live in Mira Mesa.

[Severa]

Damn...*watching local news* Pilot is fine but 5 of them had to be airlifted immediately to Sentara Norfolk General, which has a Level 1 Trauma center. Two more will be lifted out tomorrow. Didn't say what squadron they came from.

And I don't fly them. *L and points to tag* I'm married to what you'd probably call a bubblehead, or ping jockey. Sad thing is, they're phasing out the F14s in favor of the Super Hornet. I'll hate to see the Cats go.

[Pukin Dog]

The phasing out of the Cat has been slowed due to its superior performance in Afghanistan and Iraq and the shortcomings of the Super Hornet in that mission.(it takes gas to fly over those sand dunes) There are forces working to save the Cat, at least those still around. Some would like to see a Super Tomcat, but as yet, no go.

[oyez]

An F-4 blowing full afterburners is an impressive sight, especially up close. The J birds had a unique sound as well.