Blue Angels Crash in Beaufort, SC neighborhood (1 fatality confirmed by coroner)

CNN.com ^ | 4/21/07 | CNN

[FlyVet]

I was fortunate to see one of the last A-4 shows. Cool-looking little hot rods. I remember the lead pilot being interviewed on the local news. He said he would miss using the A-4, and said it had the highest roll rate in the inventory.

[Moolah]

Of course they try to stay away from population but in a jet flying that low, you don’t have much time. If he clipped a tree that low it’s all over.

[Pukin Dog]

If history is any prcedent, it's likely a pilot with his experience would have stayed with the aircraft in an attempt to miss crashing into a populated area.

And with that, I need a drink.

Again, apologies for losing my temper, have a good evening everyone.

[zipper]

Your point?

Change of paint job, they are a fully operational combat squadron.

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks!

Latest ap wire piece

Pilot killed in S.C. Blue Angel crash
BRUCE SMITH, Associated Press

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070421/ap_on_re_us/blue_angel_crash

BEAUFORT, S.C. - A Navy Blue Angel jet crashed during an air show Saturday, plunging into a neighborhood of small homes and trailers and killing the pilot, the county coroner said.

Witnesses said the planes were flying in formation during the show at the Marine Corps Air Station and one dropped below the trees and crashed, sending up clouds of smoke. At least one home was on fire.

Raymond Voegeli, a plumber, was backing out of a driveway when the plane ripped through a grove of pine trees, dousing his truck in flames and debris. He said wreckage hit “plenty of houses and mobile homes.”

“It was just a big fireball coming at me,” said Voegeli, 37. “It was just taking pine trees and just clipping them.”

County Coroner Curt Copeland said the pilot was killed, but did not release an identification. Copeland said there was a lot of debris at the crash site and described the scene as horrific.

John Sauls, who lives near the crash site, said the planes were banking back and forth before one disappeared, and a plume of smoke shot up.

“It’s one of those surreal moments when you go, ‘No, I didn’t just see what I saw,’” Sauls said.

At the Blue Angels command headquarters at Pensacola Naval Air Station the petty officer on duty said he “had no comment at this time.”

The phone rang unanswered at the Marine base.

More than 100,000 were expected to attend the air show and the Blue Angels were the main attraction. The elite aerial-demonstration team, which is based at Pensacola Naval Air Station, recently celebrated its 60th anniversary.

Beaufort is about 35 miles northwest of Hilton Head Island.

[bluecollarman]

LOL have one for me too!

[VictoryGal]

Horrible news. Prayers up...

[michigander]

I’ll buy. Whatcha havin’?

[amom]

Thanks for your reports. It is very appreciated. Please continue.

[RckyRaCoCo]

Couple of possibilities(guessing here like everyone else), being in the #6 slot, aircraft could have been damaged from a part from one of the front aircraft(perhaps even striking pilot?) Bird(s)? Catastrophic compressor failure(blades cutting major control functions?)

I saw them (Blue's) many times, mostly El Toro.

This is sad.

[bluecollarman]

It’s Deja Vu all over again!

[RDTF]

I thought for sure they must have driven you to drink by now - I already started for you!

[jazusamo]

Thanks for posting that press release, delta.

[RochesterFan]

Several posters here need to learn when NOT to pile on. I appreciated your input and the way you dealt with things when you perceived they were getting out of hand. Thanks again.

[hornetguy]

720 degrees per second! Twice around in one second! I was a maintainer in a TA-4J squadron in the early eighties and earned my qual to fly in the rear seat. One of the first things I asked the pilot to show me was the roll rate, head snaps to one side and then the other and it’s over.

I loved the A-4, went to Hornets right after that and spent the rest of my career in the Navy working on them.

[ariamne]

It does NOT occur to them. I was just wading through the filth over at Huff Po. Not only do the libs not get it, but they are high fiving over the death of the pilot and insulting the surviving pilots, calling them stupid flying NASCAR drivers, and those are the NICEST posts. I feel sick and wish I never waded in that sewer.

[StarCMC]

We’re in Navarre Beach right now. You can still see lots of damage from Ivan - Pensacola Beach is slowly coming back too. I also got their autographs in ‘05.

[bluecollarman]

I loved the A-4

Me too. I wonder where they are now? Got to be a bunch of them somewhere.

[StarCMC]

You’re right PD.

[freema]

Thank you for the ping to #376, jaz.