Forty Apartments Damaged, No Fatalities Reported, Virginia Beach Hornet
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Forty Apartments Damaged, No Fatalities Reported, Virginia Beach Hornet

What: US Navy – VFA-106 $29 million McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Hornet twin-engine supersonic fighter plane en route from Naval Air Station Oceana
Where: Virginia Beach
When: April 6 2012, 12:00 pm
Who: 40 apartments damaged, no fatalities, 5 injures
Why: Going 170 mph, a student pilot was in the front seat of the two-seat Hornet and the experienced instructor was in the rear when the plane experienced a “catastrophic mechanical malfunction.” Pilots dumped fuel just before it dived into a Virginia Beach apartment complex in the Hampton Roads area (Birdneck Road, Virginia Beach, near NAS Oceana). No residents of the Mayfair Mews complex were killed in the crash, and the pilots ejected before impact. The plane experienced “catastrophic engine system failure” right after takeoff. The crash site is two miles from the base and a mile from the ocean.

The fuel and the carbon fibers from the burning composite were a special toxic concern for first responders.

There were seven injuries on the ground in addition to the two pilots, but no fatalities have been reported. Witnesses on the scene saw smoke billowing from the building. Bystanders found the young pilot still in his parachute, and cut him free before escorting him farther from the fire. Six buildings were damaged, but now the residents, mostly elderly, are homeless.

The trainee in the front had at least 1 1/2 years of intensive training before boarding the F/A-18D, which is used in training and in combat. The jet was not carrying live ordnance,

Within 24 hours of the crash, sources confirm no one was killed in the crash. The mayor, and the us fleet forces commander agree that it is miraculous that there were no fatalities.

A fund has been established for those made homeless by the fire.

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Air Traffic Controllers Audio Released

4 Marine Corps officers have lost their jobs. 9 individuals are being disciplined. The audio is damning, but who does it damn?

What: F/A-18 Military Jet from the carrier Abraham Lincoln landing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramir
Where: San Diego neighborhood
When: DEC 8
Who: the pilot, who was part of a training squadron, ejected. He had been aiming the plane at a deserted canyon to avoid homes and the 805 Freeway. 4 Individuals in the house are dead. The pilot has been transported to Balboa Naval Hospital
Update: F/A-18 Crash in San Diego

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No incident in Miramar

What: Navy FA-18 fighter jet doing flight operations
Where: MCAS Miramar
When: Tuesday night 9 p.m
Why: When the jet ran low on fuel, the pilot was directed to land at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, which meant flying over Allied Gardens. The sight and sound of a jet flying low over the neighborhood brought back a panicked response, a reminder of an identical jet which killed people on the ground a few months ago in University City. Although the jet landed safely, the still-recovering neighborhood was catapulted back into a terror response–although the jet was completely in control the entire time.

Without wanting to sound too harsh, one hopes that San Diego recalls there is a military base and planes will be flying there when need be. There was no actual incident. Should they have ditched the jet in the bay rather than safely fly over? Then someone would have been complaining about the cost of a ditched FA-18. Be happy.

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Fuel Tank Jettisoned into Great Salt Lake; Safe Emergency landing


What: 388th Fighter Wing F-16
Where: Great Salt Lake, approximately three miles north of Antelope Island
When: Friday.
Who: Pilot
Why: When sensors indicated a fire condition, the pilot jettisoned the plane’s two external fuel tanks (emergency procedures ) o lighten the plane. (Great Salt Lake is “unpopulated”)

The Fighter Wing F-16 landed safely around 10:20 a.m. The tanks were 3/4 full, and are capable of carrying 370 gallons. Procedures are underway to retrieve the tanks.

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Update: F/A-18 Crash in San Diego

What: F/A-18 Military Jet from the carrier Abraham Lincoln landing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramir
Where: San Diego neighborhood
When: DEC 8
Who: the pilot, who was part of a training squadron, ejected. He had been aiming the plane at a deserted canyon to avoid homes and the 805 Freeway. 4 Individuals in the house are dead. The pilot has been transported to Balboa Naval Hospital
Why: Witnesses said, “It was mushing through the air…iIt was chugging along with what seemed like one engine. Then I heard a roar of engine and all of a sudden, woop, dead silence.”

The deceased have been identified as 4 members of a Korean family. Dong Yun Yoon is the sole survivor–Lost in the crash were Young Mi Yoon, 36; her daughters Grace, 15 months, and Rachel, 2 months; and her mother, Suk Im Kim, 60.

Apparently caused by power failure, the crash is considered unrelated to the previous discovery of cracks in hinges on the wings of more than a dozen F/A-18s ( This writer, however, does wonder if the two problems reveal a maintenance factor in common–though hinge cracks seem that they would be related to parts, wear or broader manufacturing issues.)