Fighter bomber cuts cable

[firstthird]

I also agree with JimNTexas, AdlerDriver, and SBpilot. I was flying in Italy at the time (Sigonella, not Aviano) and followed the accident reporting extensively, although just through the media like anyone else.

I find the argument that the Navy may have used go-pills in the 70s or 80s irrelevant. Most of the services go through cycles, I would not be at all surprised to learn that the navy used go-pills in the Vietnam era, stopped, and then started again in 2002.

As previously stated, these guys were on a 1 or 2 hour flight during daylight hours, near their base, training. That isn't a recipe for go-pills in anyone's book. The more likely scenario is a combination of flathatting and command climate. Apparently they weren't the only guys in the unit to fly their tactical training routes lower than authorized and weren't the only ones with video of it either. They got a little lost and before they figured it out had clipped that cable and 19 people died.

The two air national guard guys in Afghanistan used go-pills as their defense. The Marines in Italy used something more along the lines of we didn't know we were that low and the charts we were using didn't show that particular gondola.

 

[Huggyu2]

As someone who currently flies with "go-pills", I have found no adverse side effects. There is no way that it would cause me to make the kind of mistakes that various lawyers claim the pills cause.

 

[Jafar]

As someone who currently flies with "go-pills", I have found no adverse side effects. There is no way that it would cause me to make the kind of mistakes that various lawyers claim the pills cause.

Not to hijack, but what are the issued "go-pills"? I was under the impression that the USAF uses Dexedrine, which is a very powerful amphetamine. I assume you are waived from popping for amphetamine on a piss test if you're taking these.

 

[JCJ]

Not to hijack, but what are the issued "go-pills"? I was under the impression that the USAF uses Dexedrine, which is a very powerful amphetamine. I assume you are waived from popping for amphetamine on a piss test if you're taking these.

Yes

The medication is issued under the supervision of a flight surgeon

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Did both the NAv and the pilot got to jail? Discharged? (most likely)

 

[Huggyu2]

Before you are allowed to use it, you ground test it: basically, you take various doses over a weekend, and see your reaction. Most guys find it is a performance enhancer. I know one pilot that didn't like the side effects it caused in him, and he won't use the stuff. Personally, I love it.

 

[SB Diver]

The crew were flying aggressively and honestly trying to adhere to the rules and restrictions along the route. They just got way too low at a critical spot and the rest is history. There was nothing on the standard chart the the US military was using that depicted the cable. They had jerry-rigged a video camera in the front cockpit and erased it on the way back to base while the plane was barely flying (not sure if this was smart or not...). That is what got the pilot 5 months in the brig and the front Nav (ECMO 1) a discharge. The two backseaters were not reprimanded (sp?) but were raked over the coals after the accident. They are both still on active duty. The real tragedy was the death of 20 people and also that the Marine Corps completely turned their backs on the aircrew. Lesson to all of us: it can happen to you and be ready to take responsibility for your actions!

 

[Bjammin]

I saw the airplane in JAX after the incident. It cut about a 1 ft gash in the wing and that's it, amazing airplane. My budy was the duty officer in that Marine squadron that day. He has some great stories he will only tell me over a few beers.
Funny thing was the Navy was prevented from going "low" for years after that. Restricted to 5K unless taking off or landing, Red Flag was pointless. The Marines went back after a very short time.

Anyway, sad incident, but can see how it happened.

 

[f9driver]

Navy used 5,000' for low level. HORSE SH_T!!!

 

[JimNtexas]

What was the story with that Navy F-14 crew who shot the USAF RF-4C off the tanker near Italy in the late 80s?