Authorities say the pilot, still not identified, was killed in the crash. It appears that the plane struck a tall pine tree and traveled another block before crashing near Pine Grove subdivision, a heavily populated area. Parts of the plane hit several houses.
It was not immediately known whether anyone else was hurt in the crash, though witnesses said they saw shrapnel on the ground and at least one home on fire.
Reports indicate that it was Blue Angel No. 6 that crashed. It’s unclear who was piloting that F/A-18.
Emergency crews at the scene of the crash site called for the coroner about 4:20 p.m., indicating that the pilot was killed in the crash.
The Blue Angel crashed about 30 minutes into the unit’s show at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.
Jason Keith, of Yemassee, S.C., said he was driving west when he saw the plane crash behind the Food Lion grocery story, which is south of the road.
“Something caught my eye, and all of a sudden I saw a huge black explosion,” he said. “The plane went down, and we watched it for awhile and I didn’t see any parachute or anything. If he had been 400 yards to his right he would have plowed into the road. The other guys were just flying along.”
Keith said he saw a home catch fire.
Tim Stamps, 18, said he was walking down the road, coming back from Food Lion, when he saw the plane circling in the air and smoking.
He also saw the left side of a house covered in shrapnel and the windows are busted out.