Blue Angel crash at airshow

[Andy]

Word is #6 crashed and was killed in a SC airshow. They were performing at MCAS Beaufort.

 

[pilotpat]

I just saw that...coroner confirmed 1 killed, but no other comments. Too bad. God Bless 'em.

 

[MJG]

Thoughts with the pilot's family and with the team.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/21/blueangels.crash/index.html

 

[Vandal]

#6 would be LCDR Kevin Davis...RIP man. God that sucks...

 

[Fins Up]

"So let's drink to their memories, our heroes and our pals,
to those crazy Navy Flyers, (...to those swell Hawaiian gals - but that's not the important part here)."

- Jimmy Buffett -

Here's to you Shipmate. Bottoms up!

 

[av8orboy]

Lieutenant Commander Kevin Davis is a native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and graduated from Reading Memorial High School in 1992 where he played football and was active with the Civil Air Patrol. He attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Science with honors in 1996.

Kevin reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida, for Officer Candidate School and aviation indoctrination in September 1996. He completed primary flight training at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, and transferred to NAS Meridian, Mississippi, for intermediate and advanced flight training. While there, he flew the T-2C Buckeye and TA-4J Skyhawk, and received his wings of gold in June 1999.

Kevin reported to Fighter Squadron 101 (VF-101) at NAS Oceana, Virginia, for training in the F-14 Tomcat and was the “Top Stick” in his class. In July 2000 he reported to the VF-11 “Red Rippers” where he completed deployments aboard the aircraft carriers USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67). While with the “Red Rippers,” Kevin served as the airframes/corrosion branch officer, air-to-ground training officer and head landing signals officer. His deployments included extended operations in the North Arabian Sea and Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

In July 2003, Kevin transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet through Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125) at NAS Lemoore, California, and then reported to the Fighter Composite Squadron (VFC-12) “Omars,” stationed at NAS Oceana, Virginia. While at VFC-12, Kevin served as a Navy adversary pilot providing valuable air-to-air training for fleet squadrons. In December of 2004, Kevin graduated from the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) as an adversary pilot. During his tour at VFC-12, Kevin worked as the schedules officer, legal officer, FRS/SFARP officer and assistant operations officer.

Kevin joined the Blue Angels in September 2005. He has accumulated more than 2,500 flight hours and 200 carrier arrested landings. His decorations include the Air Medal, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and various personal and unit awards.

 

[tailspin]

#6 LCDR Kevin Davis was my college roomate and good friend. We were planning a get together at the air show in Millville, NJ. Kevin was a great person, always putting the needs of other's above his own. He was the epitome of the moral character required to be a Blue Angel. He was single, and is survived by his parents and an older brother. He died doing what he loved. May he rest in peace.

 

[iflyabeech]

RIP LCDR Davis...

 

[5niner0]

I watched it as it happened this afternoon. RIP

 

[Captain Morgan]

This is very sad. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Nothing like the AP story strongly and irresponsibly suggesting a cause:

"The Blue Angels fly F/A-18 Hornets at high speeds in close formations, and their pilots are considered the Navy's elite. They don't wear the traditional G-suits that most jet pilots use to avoid blacking out during maneuvers. The suits inflate around the lower body to keep blood in the brain, but which could cause a pilot to bump the control stick — a potentially deadly move when flying inches from other planes.
Instead, Blue Angels manage G-forces by tensing their abdominal muscles."

I have yet to see any names released other than the same knucklehead saying the #6 jet went down. Could these obits for Davis be a bit premature?

 

[splatt]

Fair winds and following seas...

 

[Clandestine]

From Navy Office of Information
PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- An F/A-18A Hornet assigned to the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (Blue Angels) crashed during the final minutes of an air show at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., at approximately 4 p.m. EDT, April 21.

The pilot did not survive.

The pilot of the jet was joining the Delta formation for the final maneuver of the aerial demonstration when the mishap occurred. It was his second year on the team, and first year as a demonstration pilot.

The other five Blue Angel jets were not involved in the incident and landed safely moments later.

The crash occurred approximately three miles outside the air station in the vicinity of Pine Grove Rd. and White Pine Rd. One civilian on the ground reported minor injuries and was transported to Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Some houses in the area received damage, the extent of which is unclear at this time.

The name of the pilot is being withheld pending the notification of the next-of-kin.

The cause of the accident is currently under investigation.

For more news from around the fleet, visit www.navy.mil.

 

[xrated]

#6 LCDR Kevin Davis was my college roomate and good friend. We were planning a get together at the air show in Millville, NJ. Kevin was a great person, always putting the needs of other's above his own. He was the epitome of the moral character required to be a Blue Angel. He was single, and is survived by his parents and an older brother. He died doing what he loved. May he rest in peace.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[skybert]

Most of us can only dream of being the kind of men they are. Godspeed.

 

[Rick James]

#6 LCDR Kevin Davis was my college roomate and good friend. We were planning a get together at the air show in Millville, NJ. Kevin was a great person, always putting the needs of other's above his own. He was the epitome of the moral character required to be a Blue Angel. He was single, and is survived by his parents and an older brother. He died doing what he loved. May he rest in peace.

I'm sure he was a great man, I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[JungleJett]

Nothing like the AP story strongly and irresponsibly suggesting a cause:

"The Blue Angels fly F/A-18 Hornets at high speeds in close formations, and their pilots are considered the Navy's elite. They don't wear the traditional G-suits that most jet pilots use to avoid blacking out during maneuvers. The suits inflate around the lower body to keep blood in the brain, but which could cause a pilot to bump the control stick — a potentially deadly move when flying inches from other planes.
Instead, Blue Angels manage G-forces by tensing their abdominal muscles."

I have yet to see any names released other than the same knucklehead saying the #6 jet went down. Could these obits for Davis be a bit premature?

They were not implying a cause just stating facts. Read what was written again and I think you will see they are just mentioning that they do not wear G-suits and the reason why, not saying that is what caused the accident.

We were descending into Jacksonville on Thursday morning when Blue Angle Six checked in with Jax center. His call on victor was "Jax center, Blue Angle Six, an F-18 Hornet, checking in climbing to FL250." He sounded very proud of it and I remarked to the FO the same. Then I said, "How cool is that!"

Tough news.....prayers are with his family, both of them.

 

[PhatAJ2008]

Just wondering....
Why was the one team leader circling the crash site while the other landed? I would think they would all land immediately...?
I just saw them perform at Tyndall last month. This is very sad.

 

[satpak77]

Just wondering....
Why was the one team leader circling the crash site while the other landed? I would think they would all land immediately...?
I just saw them perform at Tyndall last month. This is very sad.

I am sure he was confirming that fire/rescue was enroute and correctly going to the site.

I am not military, but it is my understanding when a "wingman" goes down, his partner (safety allowing) remains on scene till SAR responds and reacts. He was probably doing as trained.

 

[Jafar]

A tragic loss. I'm sorry about your friend, tailspin.

 

[PhatAJ2008]

I am sure he was confirming that fire/rescue was enroute and correctly going to the site.

I am not military, but it is my understanding when a "wingman" goes down, his partner (safety allowing) remains on scene till SAR responds and reacts. He was probably doing as trained.

That makes sense... Thanks for the response...

 

[Say Again Over]

tailspin

My sincere condolences, a great loss to our country.

 

[oiltycoon]

A friend of friend (him being a Marine Hornet driver) said the Blue clipped a powerline.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

They were not implying a cause just stating facts. Read what was written again and I think you will see they are just mentioning that they do not wear G-suits and the reason why, not saying that is what caused the accident.

I read it again. And again. That paragraph is completely non-germane to the early facts and quite misleading to the layperson. John Q. Public reads that article and tells his buddy that the guy blacked out because he wasn't wearing a G-suit. Ever play the game "grapevine"?

Anyway, it's a bummer when any plane goes down, and it's especially a bummer when airshow planes go down.

 

[Andy]

I have yet to see any names released other bthan the same knucklehead saying the #6 jet went down. Could these obits for Davis be a bit premature?

I posted it on two websites; here and on airlinepilotcentral. That's it. Information based off of the Beaufort Gazette. http://www.beaufortgazette.com/breaking_news/story/6477991p-5769084c.html

Rather than spew hatred toward everything written on this matter, including the AP article (which most, including myself, think that you're reading WAY too much into the article), how about you honor the memory of a fallen comrade? If you can't honor his memory, at least remove your bitter fingers from the keyboard.

Tailwinds to the fallen Angel.

 

[Timebuilder]

On wings of eagles.

 

[clickclickboom]

Guys I was there facing the site when they were rejoining saw the plane descend below the tree line but It was 2-3 miles from the end of the runway..

My friends and four of our children were 200 yards from the site on the road going home we had been stopped by police to allow other traffic to go ahead. and was at the main gate of of MCAS The emergency response was impressive.. #1 circled until a helicopter was on site.

Sad Sad day the media can say what they want but the emergency response, the timeline from incident to emer/sar on site was literally 1-2 mins .

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Rather than spew hatred toward everything written on this matter,

Not everything, just the unnecessary, misleading info. Not hatred either, just displeasure. The memory of this man doesn't need to be tainted by irresponsible reporting. Also, the Knucklehead I was referring to was the original AP writer, not the original poster of this thread, but I can the understand his confusion.

 

[twepilot]

take your displeasure and cram it. This is not the time.

RV

 

[dojetdriver]

My dad taking me to see a Blue Angels show when I was kid is what made me want to fly.

Godspeed, RIP.