Pilot who wrecked Black Hawk admits he was showing off

Associated Press ^ | May. 05, 2005 | JAYMES SONG

[GOPGuide]

Ok,

[Polybius]

The huge majority of military flying accidents are because of this very same attitude. Showing off is something that is hard to avoid among the type of individuals who qualify to fly these aircraft. I could tell you of many stories where pilots have lost their lives, or millions of dollars worth of tax-payer funded weaponry, just because they wanted to have, or give someone else a thrill. It is just part of the game.

As young Navy medical officers at the Combat Casualty Care Course at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, we were paired up in two's and given the task of starting IV's in a small Army helicopter in flight. The teaching point was that the task is next to impossible so we needed put in all the necessary IV lines prior to the arrival of the med-evac helo.

When we had finished our IV try, the Army pilot looked back at us and yelled, "Are you two the last pair for the day?"

"Ummm.....Yeah."

"Aw, right!! Let's have some fun!!!"

It was all a blur after that.

[LibKill]

He screwed the pooch big-time.

Pilots have to have some of that hot-dog elan in their nature, but it must be tempered with a knowledge of their great responsibility to country and corps.

[mad_as_he$$]

Ahh the old military tradition of hotdogging. Cost us 2 F-18's this week to!

[a6intruder]

That is not what the accident board determined.

The pilot raised the flaps early on a fully fueled aircraft on a hot summer day. The net result was a loss of adequate lift in a turn and the aircraft stalled and crashed on Oceana Blvd.

It was not the first time that mistake has been made. We lost another one in Roosey Roads in the late 70's for the exact same reason.

Still pilot error mishap, but not "showing off".

[a6intruder]

Sounds like you were YG 71 or 72? I was YG 68. Wings in 70, A-4s at NTU for 2 years then A-6 RAG. VA-35 followed by RAG instructor, followed by VA-34. Then MATWING staff, War College and XO/CO tour of VC-6 at Norfolk. Then navigator, JFK and a tour at CINCLANTFLT as a CAPT and got my "Thank you for your service..you can go home now" letter from the SERB board. Defense contractor locally since then.

I do Delta from Norfolk to Tampa a couple times a year and the occasional Ft Lauderdale. Are you an east coast route kinda guy?

(yeah, I know I need that CAP, but you gotta admit you needed that good old KA-6D too)

Warm regards....a6intruder

[arasina]

What to do?

"If you'd like to make a call, please hang up and try again. If you need help, hang up and then dial your operator."

[F16Fighter]

"If you'd like to make a call, please hang up and try again. If you need help, hang up and then dial your operator."

Amazing. Oh, sooo amazing.