Terrible news about the mishap off Miramar today. Three people dead, one missing, a neighborhood aflame. It’s bad enough to stack every chip you’ve ever earned and every fact you’ve ever learned on a bet and lose your own life. Far worse to walk away and leave a hole in your wake. It’s every pilot’s nightmare, one of those things you don’t admit even to yourself.
I’d hate to have to live with that.
Easy to second guess, knowing next to nothing about what happen but what the gross physical evidence reveals: A last minute ejection, a (relatively) small hole in the ground – a high speed crash would have been flatter and taken out many more houses while leaving fewer recognizable bits – and a mishap site west of a runway that lands to the west. People will wonder – they’re wondering already – why the mishap pilot didn’t take his crippled jet into NAS North Island, with an overwater approach. The Tomcat guys used to brief that sort of thing all of the time, although they also had a distressing tendency to fall out of the sky in larger numbers.
What we don’t know could fill volumes: What was his experience level, what did he know of his problems, what direction did he receive from higher authority? How quickly did chaos come from carefully structured order?
Can’t know. It’ll all come out, and we’ll all learn from it, but those people will be no less dead.
Probably not a good time to contemplate the wisdom of building up housing communities underneath the lateral limits of a master tactical jet base. There will be time for all that later, maybe.
It just sucks, is all.
All the way around.
Yak — you must have finished VS41 right in front of me. Russ Stai and I were on final when that FCLP launch took off. Russ was listening to base, and as we taxied in he said, “I think we just lost an a/c.” Went in and it was pretty somber. What happened, as I am sure you remember, was they were trying to do a running rdv on that crappy tail light on the S3. Unfortunately, what they thought was the tail light, was a buoy in the water off Point Loma. That accident was what led to the strip lights on the S3 — not on the factory models.
Another lesson learned, written in blood. Also, that F14 crash at the 90 at Miramar earlier that day, skidded right across 163 (not I5). That was what led to the move of that highway to the east.
B2,
Actually the RIO in the Tomcat crash on 163 in 1978 did not survive.
Wikipedia already has this latest mishap listed, along with a few others over the years at Miramar. But they left off a few off base, like the two F-14s that crashed into the Miramar landfill two days apart, the one that went down in Poway, and the one that went down in El Cajon.
Nevertheless you are quite correct the accident rate is miniscule considering the millions of flight hours flown over the years, and especially the number of single-engine flights (either by aircraft design, or otherwise) routinely flown over San Diego.
As tragic an event as this is, it is fortunately, extremely rare. Indeed, far more innocent people will be killed on San Diego’s highways this month than were killed by aircraft.
I’ve owned houses on both ends of that runway. Never gave what happened yesterday a first thought. As to the sounds, they sounded like liberty to me. What happened yesterday is a tragedy, plain and simple. No two ways about it. At this juncture, all the other talk is the noise. Me? I can only feel sadness for the families of those involved.
Interesting site: http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/
Far from complete (just off the top of my head I can think of at least 10 ejections that aren’t listed), but plenty to occupy one’s time and bring back memories of mishaps past.
RIO: Please contact the “ejection history” webmaster with any ‘missing info’ that you have mentioned. Webmaster is keen to get the site accurate and as up to date as possilbe. Thanks.
Yak, Scott,
You’ve got it right I think. The Topgun cake story I can’t vouch for (I like it though), but thanks for correcting the order of my “story of the 3′s”. After a lifetime of this type of thing it all flows together sometimes shipmate…
Flit,
You’re probably right too, especially if Wiki says. Somebody made it that day…I just write it out from memory having lived itwhile making my living conducting RA for the most minor and most major systems of Naval Aviation. “Miniscule” ain’t a term we use. We measure risk . We do it on bolts, nuts, circuit boards, software, even whole airplanes but we can’t get into the minds of everyone who flies a jet. That’ll be the mishap boards job. It’s a pretty honest business most of the time. Lex knows as well as I or better..
Indeed a tragedy and as long as men (and women) take to the air it will continue to happen. As a professional associated with aviation since the mid 70′s I have to say it’s gotten a lot safer,,,,I’d say by a factor of 1, at least (Sid- help me out). Despite this horrible tragedy that’s real progress and I hope the people of San Diego won’t give into fear and instead embrace the future. San Diego has long ties to aviation history,even before Charles Lindberg came on the scene.
b2
Spaz — Yeah, I would have already if I could remember details that would be useful. I could list some mishaps and maybe someone could fill in the blanks, but I’m not sure this is the appropriate thread for that…or even the appropriate forum.
Nose @26: ’twasnt always so. Cross runway (now long closed) was always rigged and usually provided a quick shot back across the main drag to SP-1 and -2 which was nice if you were going back single engine or behind a tow trailing hydraulic fluid…(have a dozen or so field traps there).
Oh, and re. VAB, dont forget to add Myra “Go to H3ll Navy” Obendorf, mayor for life and owner of a deaf ear to Navy’s protests over development around Oceana, at least until it was added to the BRAC list for investigation. Came about so fast I’ll bet she’s still suffering whipash today.
- SJS
A lot of detail on the crash here (just keep scrolling down).
The father of the family killed is a patriot and a Christian, and appears to be living his creed even among the staggering devastation he is surely experiencing:
RIO: Mike Bennett is the webmaster in UK doing the work in his spare time. He would be glad to take whatever information you have and then correlate it with info he has already and check with his contacts. In other words you don’t have to provide it all. Thanks for any help. Ben’s e-mail: mbenshar@aol.com
This by the father that lost a family… hard days ahead for him and the pilot. Pray for both of them….
via CNN…
A Korean immigrant who lost his wife, two children and mother-in-law when a Marine Corps jet slammed into the family’s house said Tuesday he did not blame the pilot, who ejected and survived.
“Please pray for him not to suffer from this accident,” a distraught Dong Yun Yoon told reporters gathered near the site of Monday’s crash of an F/A-18D jet in San Diego’s University City community.
“He is one of our treasures for the country,” Yoon said in accented English punctuated by long pauses while he tried to maintain his composure.
“I don’t blame him. I don’t have any hard feelings. I know he did everything he could,” said Yoon, flanked by members of San Diego’s Korean community, relatives and members from the family’s church.
As long as we are in the accident investigation mode there is an excellent
article in the latest Vanity Fair (the one with Tina Fey on the cover) entitled “The Devil at 37,000 Feet” dissecting that mid-air a couple of years ago between that factory new executive Brazilian jet being ferried back to the US and a Brazilian airliner with 154 souls on board who went down with no survivors while the E-jet made an emr landing.
The article points out vividly and clinically how a series of minor mistakes, otherwise inconsequential in isolation, made by the ATC controllers and the aircrew, in association with minor equipment failure and some bad luck, all combined to make the fatal merge all but inevitable–as is so often the case. Was a good read except for the standard leftist swipe at corporate aviation “hogging” the public’s airways needlessly flying “fat cats” around, etc. But the accident analysis was detailed, exhaustive and objective.
My thoughts and prayers to all those affected by this tragedy. No speculation on my part. God’s speed.
Prayers to Mr. Yoon (and what’s left of his family) and to the Marine pilot.
They’ll need them every one of them that we can spare…
Mr. Yoon’s faith and dignity is inspiring beyond words.
Yes, Jeopardy, isn’t it ironic that it should be a Korean-American who should demonstrate such dignity, calm reason and great appreciation for those who serve under the colors when many of us originally born here of anglo descent show such little regard and indeed outright contempt for those who would lay down their lives in the service and protection of every American citizen–outraged or no.
“He is one of our treasures for the country,” Yoon said in accented English punctuated by long pauses while he tried to maintain his composure.
Well, after watching the video, I have to think that Mr. Yoon is a treasure to our country.
Shameful bashing of the Tomcat when we are no longer in service to defend ourselves! At least we went down with the ship when we auger’d in!
Yah, Biff – but that’s because you guys often augured in at the ship.
SJS,
I remember 1/19 at NGU. Landed on it my own self a few times (twice without the hook down!) The RAG hangar sits right on top of the approach end now.
Myra is gone. Lost this year to a local boy whose brother is trying to do a big real estate deal over by the convention center.
Oceana using 23′s today. It was LOUD as I was playing golf this morning (in shorts).
Nose
Virgil @62,
Great find on the VF article. It’s available online. The author has also done some good writing on maritime subjects in the past.
I was on a JetBlue flight out of Lindbergh field about an hour after the accident. An odd sensation to be watching live video of the scene on DirecTV as you overfly the area.
I expected to find an informed & intelligent discussion on this blog, and haven’t been disappointed. You guys have a great community.
Prayers to all affected by this tragedy.
The blogger “Cold Fury” had the following contact info for Mr Yoon:
Dong Yun Yoon
c/o Rev. Kevin Lee
Korean United Methodist Church
3520 Mount Acadia Blvd
San Diego, CA 92111
Mr Yoon and his family are in my prayers
B-RIO @54 – The White F-4 on the site was in our custody at Targets Pt. Mugu for a time in the late ’80′s, and then was reclaimed by China Lake as being useful to them somehow.
One of our guys, Mo Jones, came back one day with this ‘possum eatin S…’ grin. “Gawd, is that one really fast F-4!” No longer having a lot of its native gadgetry aboard made it the fastest jet on base. Our QF-4Ns were like that also, lighter and faster than anything around…except for the F-14D.
The White F-4 also had a special bulkhead fitted at the front of the rear cockpit, keeping the front cockpit sealed, and a special ‘Fire The Rear Seat’ button. Used for inflight E-Seat testing, it was also great for airshow demos…
Notable F-14 incident: A/C out of rework at NZY for NKX. Just past Pt. Loma A/C starts into a series of yo-yo’s, crew says “We’re done here” & gives away the jet. Pilot wakes up upon water entry and does the routine. RIO not so fortunate; float coat inflated, SEAWARS batteries installed upside down…chute became anchor. Fill in the rest. Cause of mishap: Horiz Stab attach bolt not secured properly, removed self from stab and actuator, uncommanded aerobatics ensued. A lot of heads rolled on that one.
Back on topic: Mr. Dong (If I recall correctly, that’s how the Asians do it.) is on my ‘Thoughts and Prayers’ card list for this weekend. Such charity and forgiveness are the makings of a treasure all its own.
My prayers for the Young Marine. What a burden to bear, and hoping that he can find his peace at day’s end.
Thanks for the info, Jerry.
Off topic: Mongo (and anyone remotely interested in the history), the YF-4J was indeed the Navy’s only ejection seat test aircraft and was categorized a national asset. It sat untasked after you left and we couldn’t get it flown without an expensive, unfunded SDLM slot. We kept it preserved just-in-case. Nobody wanted to be responsible for striking a one of a kind asset, couldn’t get the Rework. The final call was to get it to the desert for longterm storage and away from the salt air at Mugu. And there she sits. A beautiful aircraft. For the life of me I can’t recall if we trucked it out or got a one time flight. I do recall the 53/heavy lift civilian acft option was looked at but was too expensive. I’m thinking trucked. An ignoble end to a long career.
On Topic: The depth of the man’s loss is unimaginable. They’d been in the home for just a month, happy to be out of the small apartment after the birth of the newest daughter. Mother in law was due to go back home very soon.
My inlaws are from South Vietnam; wife’s dad an ARVN artillery officer locked up in re-education (prison) camps after the war. He and his seven children are all here now and are fiercely patriotic Americans. That is not uncommon for many of our country’s newest citizens IMHO. They put to shame many of our newest generations of spoiled home-growns.
That said, contrast to America’s finest here and abroad serving proudly whether in the military or not. As I believe there is more good than evil in the world, I have faith in America and refuse to give up hope.
touche…Lex!