F-18 crashes in VA Beach apartment complex

[BossHog]

This is not good for the future of the military in the VA beach area. It also gives the public another reason to say that military aviation is too dangerous and unnecessary

http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_n...virginia-beach

[Brent]

True, but as many flights go in and out there on a day-to-day basis it happens so rarely. I just wonder why they didn't head toward the ocean and not the base?

[Gwen]

Originally Posted by heilmanbw

True, but as many flights go in and out there on a day-to-day basis it happens so rarely. I just wonder why they didn't head toward the ocean and not the base?

eeeewwwwww

You seriously expect someone in the NAVY to get wet???? and deal with Water????


eeewwww

There might be seaweed or jellyfish out them parts

[Fearless Tower]

Originally Posted by heilmanbw

I just wonder why they didn't head toward the ocean and not the base?

Do you know something that the rest of us don't?

Public details are pretty sparse. About all we know is they ejected and the aircraft hit a bunch of apartments. How do you know they weren't taking off? Or maybe heading towad the ocean and couldn't make it.

[Brent]

I was in the Navy and getting drenched in rain and seawater was part of the job. Of course those officer types can't be having any of the stuff us enlisted dealt with (no offense to any officer types out there). Of course if those pilots options was the water surrounding Norfolk basin then the ground was the safer option for them. That water there is nasty.

[Fearless Tower]

Originally Posted by heilmanbw

I was in the Navy and getting drenched in rain and seawater was part of the job. Of course those officer types can't be having any of the stuff us enlisted dealt with (no offense to any officer types out there).

I am a Navy Officer and believe me, I've been drenched in sea water and rain more than I can remember....right along with my blue shirts.

[John]

So the pilots ejected to safety but let the plane crash into an apartment complex. I hope no one was killed. Could this be considered man slaughter? Unleashing an unguided cruise missile at a populated area? Someone could have a field day with this! I hope the Navy is able to make this go away quietly.

[BossHog]

Originally Posted by jmp470

So the pilots ejected to safety but let the plane crash into an apartment complex. I hope no one was killed. Could this be considered man slaughter? Unleashing an unguided cruise missile at a populated area? Someone could have a field day with this! I hope the Navy is able to make this go away quietly.

I don't know what the Navy policy is on this but once the plane is uncontrollable, there isn't much more that one can do. If the pilots go down with the ship, there is no way to figure out for sure what the problem was.

[Brent]

Originally Posted by Fearless Tower

Do you know something that the rest of us don't?

Public details are pretty sparse. About all we know is they ejected and the aircraft hit a bunch of apartments. How do you know they weren't taking off? Or maybe heading towad the ocean and couldn't make it.

I know I have spent a lot of time in that area. I did training there off and on and my oldest son lived in that area. Oceana NAS is right on the water just like Norfolk and Damneck isn't too far off. Most of the apartments are further inland. Without knowing for sure what area this happened at I am speculating. I can, however, ask some of my buddies that are still in the area for more details. I don't mean to come across as insulting the pilots. I know Navy guys are just about the best there is at their jobs and have flown with some of the Navy helo pilots on occasion and I don't envy them at all. I am pretty sure they did they only thing they could. My statement was more me thinking out loud more or less.

[Fearless Tower]

Originally Posted by jmp470

So the pilots ejected to safety but let the plane crash into an apartment complex. I hope no one was killed. Could this be considered man slaughter? Unleashing an unguided cruise missile at a populated area? Someone could have a field day with this! I hope the Navy is able to make this go away quietly.

Without any details on what happened, there is just no way to know.

Seeing the initial photos of the apartment complex....it would be an absolute freakin' miracle if no one was killed there.

Regardless of the reason, I cannot even begin to fathom how the flight crew feels right now.

[steingar]

I'm glad the crew made it to safety. I have no doubt they did what they could. The only thing worse than an out of control aircraft heading toward apartments is an out of control aircraft heading toward apartments with the hapless crew inside.

If the residents of Virginia Beach don't want the Navy there, I'll bet there are a lot of other communities that would gladly pick up the slack.

[Brent]

Originally Posted by Fearless Tower

I am a Navy Officer and believe me, I've been drenched in sea water and rain more than I can remember....right along with my blue shirts.

I was more referring to the O-types who spend all their time in CIC or in their staterooms. I had the pleasure of having a DIVO that would get out there and chip paint with the rest of us.

[Bill S.]

Holy ****.

http://www.wvec.com/news/slideshows/...146438845.html

And the TSA is worried about single engine bug smashers?

Edit to add: there's been quite some controversy and tension in Va Beach between the city and the Navy over Oceana. I'm betting that this ratchets up the tension a whole lot....

[Fearless Tower]

Originally Posted by heilmanbw

I was more referring to the O-types who spend all their time in CIC or in their staterooms. I had the pleasure of having a DIVO that would get out there and chip paint with the rest of us.

I've been a First LT on a Destroyer, a Weps on a PC and an Amphib CHENG....never been an Ops type. I like to get my hands dirty

[Fearless Tower]

From local news

Aircrew transported to hospital. Local hospitals going to mass casualty mode. VBFD at three alarm.

[Captain]

Wow, the OP was :23 after the event (if my math is correct). Nice scoop. I think this is the first time I've found out breaking news online before normal media.

[Bill S.]

Originally Posted by Captain

Wow, the OP was :23 after the event (if my math is correct). Nice scoop. I think this is the first time I've found out breaking news online before normal media.

Had I been looking at my email, I would have seen it even sooner. Someone I know works in data/communications for the city of Norfolk....

[Brent]

Originally Posted by Fearless Tower

I've been a First LT on a Destroyer, a Weps on a PC and an Amphib CHENG....never been an Ops type. I like to get my hands dirty

The Ops types were the worst. I was an FC. Would love to have been on a PC, but being an AEGIS guy never had the opportunity. I was restricted to a Cruiser. It wasn't all that bad, but my first chain of command when I got to the ship were the best. After they left it just went down hill from there. I could tell many a story about each and every one of our officers who served as Ops. Very few would be good. We even have one tell us to prepare to ram a fully loaded supertanker in the NAG once!

I originally made that comment without thinking. I really did mean no offense to anyone. I guess it is just the enlisted guy in me that pops out every once in awhile.

[Brent]

I agree with the sentiment of feeling for the air crew. Regardless of the outcome it will not only weigh heavy on their mind what happened but you could also be looking at the end of a career too.

[BossHog]

They are interviewing a guy now who says the pilot landed on his back porch. Good grief.

[Fearless Tower]

Originally Posted by david0tey

They are interviewing a guy now who says the pilot landed on his back porch. Good grief.

This is probably going to be a whole lot worse than the Miramar crash a few years ago. Pilot pointed the aircraft at an open canyon and punched out around 500' only to watch the airplane go into a neighborhood as he came down in someone's yard.

[Fearless Tower]

Accident site is apparently in line with Rwy 5, winds out of the N- NNE....I'm guessing it happened on takeoff.

[Brent]

Watching the coverage online it looks like it happened on Birdneck Rd. which isn't far from the airfield at Oceana. I am going to assume this happened on take off and the pilot had no hope of making water or any lightly populated area. This is going to be worse than Miramar. sadly. My thoughts are with all the ones affected by this.

[Inverted]

The pilot was dumping fuel, and flying with a high AOA, not during takeoff. I don't know if I agree that it will be worse than Miramar. Miramar could have easily been prevented. We will see if this was a very freak accident, or could have been prevented as well. As far as casualties go I would agree with you that the numbers here will be higher.

[Brent]

I was just figuring take-off due to the proximity of the road to the airfield. Of course, Birdneck isn't a short road so I don't know exactly where that place was. It does look bad though from the news footage.