Not so "Top Gun".......

[CaNsA]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfpKO4SCEHM

US Navy F-18 crashes in residential Virginia

A US Navy F-18 jet has crashed shortly after take off in a residential area near Virginia Beach, Virginia.

A Navy spokesman told the BBC that the plane went down just before 12:08 (16:08 GMT) and two crew members ejected safely.

The plane hit an apartment building, with photos showing black smoke rising from behind houses.

There were no immediate reports of serious casualties and the cause of the crash is not yet known.

Pentagon spokesman George Little used Twitter to say Defence Secretary Leon Panetta was being kept informed: "#SecDef is closely monitoring F-18 crash in Virginia Beach; concerned about potential loss of life and injuries."
'Burst into flames'

The plane was based at the naval air station at Oceana, Virginia where it was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106, the Navy said.

The pilots have sustained non-life threatening injuries and have been taken to a hospital, the Virginia Beach Fire and Rescue said. The fire was under control, they added.

Local news station WTKR reports that a significant amount of damage has been done to an apartment building located near the centre of town.

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell said: "We are taking all possible steps at the state level to provide immediate resources and assistance to those impacted by the crash. Our fervent prayer is that no-one was injured or killed in this accident."

Witnesses have told local media that just before the crash they saw the plane empty its fuel tank.

One witness, Jon Swain, told US news station MSNBC: "There were flames coming out of its engine at the back, which I just thought was afterburn or whatever... but the plane got lower and lower.

"I saw one pilot eject. I understand there were two, but I only saw one. And then you know, probably five seconds later, I was at the building where it hit. It burst into flames."

One person has been taken to hospital after suffering inhaling smoke, WTKR reports.

A nearby highway, Interstate 264, has been closed in both directions, local officials said.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17640618

[CaNsA]

Oh and inb4....

I hope he had protected no-claims.....

[WildGoose]

I used to have a subscription to Air Forces Monthly. They do accident reports from around the world each month, across every air force they can get access to.

It's an eye opener how often this sort of thing happens across the world. Considering the cost of these things.

For example, you should read up about what the Indian Navy have managed to do to over half of the Sea Harriers they bought from us over the years. They can't seem to keep them in the air. And not infrequently have they killed the pilots.
____________________
So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

[The Artist]

https://i.imgur.com/Amg87.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/gJ1Po.jpg

https://img.gawkerassets.com/img/17irqmyaqeng3jpg/original.jpg

I was reading about this about an hour after it happened on a forum just as the first reports were coming in. A guy posted that 2nd pic saying his mate took it, now being used on loads of news sites. Also that one pilots parachute got caught in a tree and had to be cut down, all the time apologising for hitting their building.

Another witness said that they had ejected so low to the ground to avoid a local school.

[doggone]

So would this be a mechanical failure or has a trainee pilot done something akin to stalling during his CBT?

[The Artist]

[CaNsA]

I guess the following phrase is true.

[The Artist]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-kPdfp_-aF8#t=109s

[Im-a-Ridah]

Unlikely to be pilot error. If he had just managed to get the plane into the air, then continuing his actions would simply make the plane go higher. I'd also go with mechanical failure of some kind. At low altitude after taking off my first thought would be a bird strike. They deserve credit for trying to avoid injuries to civilians on the ground, so +1 to them for that

Although F18D are two seat "training" aircraft, they are probably better described as type training aircraft, for training pilots already qualified on combat type aircraft to fly F18s. Before flying these they would already be competent on T6 (prop plane) and T45 Goshawk (carrier capable BAE Hawk), and so not n00bs

[The Artist]

Watch the vid I just posted.