This video presents never-before-seen exclusive footage showing the 2016 crash of a United States Navy Blue Angels F/A-18C Hornet, as well as the associated emergency response. The post-accident footage and photographs were obtained from a source who insisted on anonymity. According to the command investigation report, Captain Jeffrey Kuss was fully qualified to fly his aircraft and was universally recognized as one of the most meticulous and professional Blue Angel pilots by his teammates. In addition, he had accumulated 1,686.5 total flight hours and had no previous military mishaps or flight violations. The Blue Angels were in Smyrna, Tennessee for the Great Tennessee Air Show and Kuss occupied the #6 position within the Blue Angels' final demonstration. On June 2, 2016, Kuss performed a Tactical Demonstration of an F/A-18C aircraft during a practice flight in Smyrna, Tennessee. During the execution of a "Split S" maneuver, Kuss deviated from approved procedures which, compounded by several tactical errors and loss of situational awareness created a rate of descent during that maneuver that could not be arrested and resulted in ground impact. Based on the investigation, weather conditions and fatigue were contributing causal factors, but ultimately, the mishap was due to pilot error. Several indicators from Kuss' behavior on the morning of the mishap suggest he was fatigued: Kuss did not sign his A sheet (accepting his aircraft) prior to the mishap flight and did not turn on his transponder (mode 3 IFF squawk) prior to take off for the mishap flight (both omissions were out of character). Additionally, he failed to retard the throttle out of afterburner during the mishap maneuver despite verbalizing his intent to do so on the radio. On the day of the mishap, potential weather impacts of a scattered to broken cloud layer were discussed by Kuss and the Lead Solo. Clouds at about 3,000 feet near the projected flight path did not impact the solos ability to fly, but that weather was likely a contributing factor to Kuss' decision to initiate the "Split S" maneuver below the normal altitude. Airspeed higher than normal for the maneuver and the lower starting altitude limited decision-making opportunities and removed margins of error for corrections to the flight trajectory. Kuss ejected into the fireball of his aircraft's explosion. This instantly incinerated Kuss's parachute, and Kuss did not decelerate.
@@swiftusmaximus5651 He didn't have the airspeed to pull out of it. He didn't have enough altitude to gain the necessary airspeed. He needed to eject sooner. If he climbed higher before the split-S, the mishap never would have happened. I'm sure you know this, I am just thinking out loud.
BA's don't have a backup pilot or way out? Well yeah, of course this happened. Anyone traveling knows there will be days sleep is impossible. Also personal problems (ie sick family member, divorce etc ) which limits concentration. Just another "employer" not caring about safety and putting on as cheap a show as possible.
I was a Marine RIO in the early '80s just before the Phantom was retired. The part about requesting time off if exhausted is a farce. If you have never been in military aviation you cannot possibly understand the pressure to perform. The slightest expression of doubt is seen as a "downing gripe". If the pilot had asked for time off from such a prestigious assignment, he might as well have asked for assignment back to the fleet.
People who have not been military aviators have no idea of the pressure pilots and crews are under to “get the X”. Me: CH53A/D pilot. Flight instructor, HT-8
I grew up in Smyrna and was there when this happened. It was an absolute tragedy to say the least. The show went on the next day except the Blue Angels didn’t fly for obvious reasons. Shook the town for a while and people still have the RIP Kuss stickers on the cars around town. There is a beautiful memorial at the park directly across from the airport that overlooks the runway where they have a Blue Angel F18 on display. RIP Captain Kuss.
While I've retired, I took part in building the Blue Angels aircraft at the depot in NAS Jax. It breaks my heart when an incident like this occurs. The pilots are true professionals in every aspect of their missions.
My Father had fueled the Angels when at SFO around 2000 ish… Very tight, strict rules and regulations with everything - one had blown a tire and that alone was a HUJ ordeal… So sad to see this!
My son was in the Young Marines color guard at an airshow about 2 months prior to this crash. Captain Kuss and all the other Blue Angels were great with the kids. They took a lot of time to talk with them and posed for multiple pictures. We were all devastated to hear of this crash. Godspeed, Captain. You are missed.
I lived in Smyrna, Tennessee as a kid in the 70’s and up till 84. I used to see these guys practicing over our house all the time and even went to the air shows they had locally. There was a airport or military base close to home that they performed over. Hard to remember the exact details but, this video brought back memories. Too bad it was a sad way to bring them back.
I lived at Sewart AFB in Smyrna as well from 1965-1969. While the base was active, the only demonstration team that buzzed our house was the USAF Thunderbirds.
@@frankroberts9320 During the annual Smyrna air show they usually alternate years between the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels. For anyone who hasn't seen them, I highly recommend it!!!
I think it was 1963 at an airshow in Big Spring Texas and I was 6 years old. A big cargo plane (believe it was a C-133) pulled up, stalled and crashed in an enormous fireball. I kept asking what happened and couldn't understand or accept that 6 people died in that fireball.
Sorry, being a military instructor Pilot I have to disagree with your statement, a talented pilot has to know when not to fly and be disciplined not to, he was not. In the flying world you don’t get a trophy all the time like you do in the civilian world!
I was a team member from 1996-1999. I was on the team when we too experienced the loss of 2 pilots and an aircraft in 1999 in Valdosta, GA at Moddy AFB....truly an awful experience for all. RIP Kojak
This fills my heart with sadness. I have always loved the Blue Angels. I love their commitment to excellence and recognize them as a symbol of freedom. My deepest sympathy to the pilot's family and loved ones. My condolences to the team. Godspeed.
Reminds me of the 2015 Hawker Hunter crash in Shoreham, England. The pilot attempted a loop but failed to achieve sufficient altitude to complete the 360 degree manoeuvre. The jet slammed into a motorway killing several drivers but the pilot miraculously survived.
... and he got off a charge of manslaughter claiming some vague neurological condition. He is now pursuing a judicial review into the Coroner's findings. His incompetence has changed airshow regulations in the UK.
What a loss not only to the family, but to his blue angels family as well. It appeared that he had plenty enough time to eject and it’s heartbreaking to see that he didn’t. Prayers to this wonderful pilot for his service.
I spoke to some that were there and the odds of the plane hitting a near by apartment complex with a lot of people in them was very great during the ejection window. It is speculated by many that knew Capt. Kuss feel he gave his life to insure others would not lose theirs.
Had this been a normal pilot/F-18, I think you would have seen an attempted ejection. But for demonstration teams like the Blue Angels who always operate on the edge of disaster, I suspect you're often already past your ejection window before you realize you're in trouble.
In the notes in the description, it says he ejected into the fireball, which consumed his parachute and kept him from slowing down before impacting the ground.
I was a technician on Tomcats, we experienced a crash as a squadron as well as a community of other squadrons on base. We all feel it when these incidents occur. It happens to the best. It saddens me when top-notch pilots lose their lives doing what they love.
Who ever was on the radio knew as soon as he went into the stall he wasn’t high enough. My Grandfather died in 1933 trying to do a loop out of Bakersfield CA. He was the first one to fly airmail from S F to L A . Flying airplanes is something you do strictly out of love. Specially at the level Blue Angels fly
Thank you for posting this. The report really humanizes the incident and the unique pressures that are placed on the NFDS (and all flight demonstration teams) to perform at the cutting edge of physics and human endurance.
I was filming these guys Friday afternoon an hour or two before the mishap. Got home and saw the breaking news report, I felt great sorrow that day. I still have the videos but can’t make out which was #6. I was filming at Smyrna elementary not far from the Sam Davis home. The memorial reminds me every time I drive by it.
Man I remember that day. It was a really bad day for sure. That year the blue angels were supposed to perform a show in South Florida like they have done since I was a little boy but after this tragedy the entire season was cancelled. Instead a week or so later I saw the USAF Thunderbirds fly their F-16's toward the Opa-Locka airport. They agreed to come over that year and perform in place of the Blue Angels. I have been a big fan of the blue angels ever since I first saw them flying F4 Phantoms in 1975. I was a very young boy but I can still remember the absolute joy and excitement of watching these guys perform. RIP brother!
I was attached to an F A18 squadron VFA 151 the Vigilantes on the west coast out of Lemoore NAS in 1993. I was thier Intel specialist as an enlisted squid. Each day in the ready room working with them as they planed thier sorties I had the privilege of knowing them professionally and as real people with real lives and family that truly admired the risks they took each time they straped in. It's been 30 years but My respect and admiration for the FA18 pilots are seared in my mind forever. It takes a unique and daring person to strap themselves onto a rocket engine trust thier aircrew and focus on the mission. If you ever meet a naval aviator step it up 2 notches from a cup of coffee and buy them lunch, the tales and journeys you will hear will be well worth your time. And for all aviators that have chosen to serve this country, BRAVO ZULU Your service to the country and the people that make up this great nation is duely noted. I S 2 Cathers
Rosario, i was stationed on an aircraft carrier on the west coast late 79/80,s, we used to put on mickey mouse ears and watch them take off and recover from vultures row!
While executing that maneuver, altitude, and energy package can box you in such that your a mathematical dead man when you commit the nose over the top... Breaks my heart… as a former F18 instructor who taught LLAT we talked continuously about required SA, this type of scenario and reviewed tapes of pop up attacks and air show maneuvers in which you pilots were boxed in at initiation. The most famous was probably Col. K at El Toro. He survived impact with the runway….
Almost every day, I jog by the Jeff Kuss Memorial at the park adjacent to the road leading to the airport. It's beautiful, but also a sad reminder. R.I.P., Captain.
I was working outside right off Jefferson pike, less than a mile away, when this happened and saw nearly the whole thing. He just suddenly dropped below the trees next to Sam Davis home and boom...big fireball rose up. It was crazy! We couldn't believe it! We had been enjoying the "private" airshow while working for a couple days and I have tons of pics and video of #6. So sad. The memorial is awesome though. I recommend everyone come see it. RIP Captain Kuss.🤙🏼
I was initially suspicious that this would be some kind of cheesy video but clicked anyway. I was pleasantly surprised. Excellent information that was tactfully presented. Good job !
I was there as well. Hit the tarmac hard. Before that one, a stunt pilot crashed into the base chapel a few years before. El Toro was an incredible event every year, too bad Clinton closed the base.
Military aviation is inherently a dangerous profession, and demonstration teams are the best of the best. This was a tragic mishap, apparently the result of pilot fatigue and overconfidence in his aircraft. I'm glad that these accidents are exceedingly rare but even a single one is a heartbreaking loss to his family and Blue Angels team.
I just don't get why he didn't get out. Damn! It was almost identical to the same maneuver that caused the opposing solo pilot for the Thunderbirds to punch out.
I'm an old Marine pilot who flew many different jets and when I saw him coming out of the maneuver I knew it was too low for a recovery. It is a gut feeling but I felt sick at the start of his nose dive and his altitude. In those situations, there is no plane that can recover with a human pilot at the controls. Maybe a drone with no pilot, but you can bet that pilot was pulling every G he could stand. The same thing happened in Miramar CA when an F-18 couldn't pull out of a maneuver and landed very hard and flat but the pilot survived.
Back when this happened my heart fell, I've seen the video of the crash many times over the years, and my heart fell every time, and it just fell again watching this. R.I.P. Captain Kuss.
I remember seeing the news about this from a local network affiliate and someone interviewing the mother and daughter occupying the house behind where this happened. Someone at that house was videotaping and the crash happened but was not caught on video. I just remember the mother asking the daughter if she saw a parachute and the daughter was crying saying no she didn't. The mother said "Oh God bless him." I'll never forget it.
This was sad. I had worked with Captain Kuss in the capacity of an air show in Rochester NY. He was as professional as it gets. Extremely nice and dedicated. He was the announcer for the BAs for that show. I was sad to learn of his accident
I was a Navy Reservist at Smyrna at the time of the crash. I, along with about 50 other Reservists, spent several days recovering aircraft wreckage at the site. It was moved to the TBI hanger on the Smryna airbase where we palletized and cataloged the recovered pieces. They were trucked back to Pensacola. The photograph shown in the video is of some of that wreckage in the hangar. I do not know where these photos came from, as photography was prohibited at the scene, although I had to take some For Official Use Only photographs for inclusion in my after action report to my commanding officer. This is NOT one of my photos. The whole incident was tragic, and difficult for those of us that worked the recovery. We were tasked with finding Captain Kuss' personal effects, and did find components of his watch and a few other items. Exposure to the carbon-fiber and JP fuels put all of us on health-impairment watchlists, and the recovery of biological remains had psychological effects on others.
A day I’ll remember. I was working at BNA when they flew into town. I watched the Team fly down the runway..smoke on, but then it was time to go back to work. When I got home the crash was all over the news. I read the accident report just after it was released about a year later. The accident chain began before they even left Pensacola.
I learnt about the crash of one of the blues back in 2016, in 2019 whilst visiting a friend, i took him to the memorial site, it's quite impressive. R.i.P. & ~Salute~Jeffrey Kuss. Got to see the blues at Andrews Airforce Base, what a Fantastic Display Team.
I was a crew member on C-141 and had 2000 hrs in 4 years. I can tell you I flew all the dang time on some 10-12 hour flight even. When you make several sorties a day, loading and unloading it takes time. 16-hour days wheels up till wheels down then ground time, preflight unloading refueling etc. Presidential support was 27-hour days. Two trips to Iran would burn me out for the month. After this many hours, I was DNIF (Duties not involving flying) Most times if you were in good standing and not a shirker we did nothing but take it easy. That was a lot of flying. This was a long time ago, but I think we burned out our monthly max flight time at 120 hours per month and something like 330 in a quarter. After that, we could not fly for a certain length of time. Crew rest was very important. Fatigue is cumulative, you can not miss a lot of rest/sleep and then sleep 12 hours and make it up. It does not work that way. Preflight crew rest at the time was 24 hours inviolate, or you could declare another rest period. Post-flight was something like 3 days crew rest after 9 days of flying the line. I never declared because someone knocked on my door or bothered me for some duty, but it was in the regs. I remember one time we lost two planes one day. Furthermore, I think one was in Europe and one in Alaska. It has been so long that I can't remember for sure. I think the reason for one crash was very bad wind shear. Our wing commander called a mass crew meeting and laid down the law to make sure we were on our toes. One thing that became policy was NO idle chatter below 10K feet on approach eyes outside and on instruments. We lost another one on the side of a mountain at one other time. I think it was in Bolivia. The Spanish controllers vectored the pilot below safe minimums, and they planted high up on the side of a mountain. I remember the families on the base did not know who it was on the crew. They were very afraid and upset. We had like 60 141s and we flew worldwide. So as you can imagine, we had crews all over the world going over the world. After that fatal accident, crews flying in South America from our base had to have one crew member that was fluent in the Spanish languages. To this day, I feel the pain of losing crew in air accidents and war. Not long ago, I saw a video of the B-52 that crashed because of a Hot Dog Col. piloting the plane that was practicing for an air show. They even had a standardization officer on the crew, and he did not stop the dangerous, illegal maneuvers in time. My Squadron building was named for a Loadmaster that was killed in Nam. The shell came through the floor, and no one knew he had been hit till some time later. This is late, but “RIP Captain Kuss.”
120 hrs a month is insane. I flew F-4c's a LONG time ago. We were dead-assed tired after 30-40hr's. We were doing ordinance drops, which is tiring. A 4hr mission was a long flight! Being PIC is more stressful, but I can't imagine being locked in that alluminum tube that long!
@@j.w.perkins6004 Well, we were not on fighters. We were on C-141A heavy cargo jets and could get up and go get a cup of coffee, smoke or use the restroom. Sometimes we had a comfort pallet with refrigerators ovens and extra restrooms and barrels of coffee on board. Plus, we did not pull the Gs you guys did. I would think the stress would be far less for us also. But we were really bushed after a week of 16 to 27-hour days (for Presidential support.) That does not count showing up a couple of hours early preflight and loading, that was wheels up to wheels down, and after flight unloading did not count as time. I was always at least 2 hours early because I never knew what we would carry, anything from Unmentionables to boot and onions. Flying after 12-16 hours (for sleep), [we were not flight refuelable at the time] was hard and very tiring. Three week straight was the longest at one time I was flying the line when Nam was being evacuated. One time the Flight Surgeon found out I had gone far past 330 hrs a quarter. I was directed to go DNIF. I actually went several weeks in which I did absolutely nothing. My hat is off to you anyway for the labor and courage you and your guys showed defending us and our country.
..I was a Hornet Maintenance Chief...retired from Naval Aviation...worked the flight deck with these guys and the pilots of the other birds on the boat...most folks have no idea what it does to us deck crews when one of our Pilots, shipmates, friends is taken from the squadron in one of these mishaps...
This happened in the county I live in. I remember vividly when this happened. The roads nearby were shut down and I had just became a firefighter, I didn't respond to the crash as it was in a different jurisdiction. But There is now a memorial for Captain Jeff Kuss at a sports park a few miles down the road, With a statue of Capt. Kuss' life size F/A-18
saw the same type accident happen years ago at El Toro MCAS during Blue Angels visit. A Marine F-18C attempted the same maneuver with the same results. The accident investigation concluded that the maneuver was attempted at too low an altitude which did not allow for adequate recovery from the inverted flight loss of lift on the aircraft
It’s so important to have thorough self assessment for fatigue and anything else that could keep oneself from being at peak performance. Today I’m laying on the couch instead of operating a very dangerous vehicle because I woke up with numb lips and felt a little light headed when making breakfast. I felt fine otherwise and was confident in my ability but I called it off. Regretting the decision and feeling restless, I decided to go for a drive and felt like I didn’t have my normal situational awareness. Felt like I was making mistakes that I would never do. I guess I made the right choice. Probably saved my own life by “taking a knee” twelve hours ago.
You can never be comfortable or act like things are routine, to be a pilot like this you must always be on high alert and in tune with every detail. He should have grounded himself until he was rested, one of the hardest things to master is self-awareness and admitting that you are not 100% ready to fly, you may get away with it 90% of the time but that other 10% will kill you. RIP
My husband a retired marsoc raider 16 years in 9 of that was in Iraq and Afghanistan, watched and read this with me,He said you don't request time off in the military,they run you ragged until you either collapse or get killed,It's a shame this Man died especially if it's due to fatigue
So sad. My dad was a Navy pilot (1943-1968). He was on two carriers during his career. Started with props and retired with jets. He didn’t say much about his time flying. I do have a picture of him next to a jet he flew in the 50’s.
I was stuck in a traffic jam with my friends in san Francisco next to fisherman's warf on fleet week 1996 and got to see the Blue Angels for the second time they were doing maneuvers around the Transamerica building when I looked at the Golden gate bridge and seen the steth bomber flying through the up rights of the bridge and over Alcatraz as the blue Angels kept flying the city it was one of the most Awesome things I ever seen and always will be
I can't even imagine the horror his teammates must have felt at the sight of his impact. Given the the skill level and super extensive training these pilots receive, something immediately catastrophic must have brought that ship down. These guys don't just fly into the ground from loss of situational awareness.
I met him in Pensacola in March of that year. Then I saw them flyover Nashville that morning coming into Smyrna. Then I was at the pool when I got the alert that one of them had crashed. RIP Captain Jeff Kuss, USMC
Wow! This was obviously a terrible tragedy. Unfortunately human error figured into this accident. RIP Captain Kuss and condolences to your family and friends.
June 2 2016 was a bad day, Capt Kuss died and a Thunderbird went down but thankfully ejected. Just saw the Blues the week before the crash. They had trouble with jet so they left it behind. After the crash it sat for a while and people made a memorial outside the fence.
I live up north in northern california but was raised down in So-Cal miles away from the El Toro Marine base. From the 80's till the 90' my family attended every airshow... I unfortunately was present during an accident were we lost Pilots. Not the Angels though. This is unheard of. I'm stunned over the video and heart broken.
@@cup_and_cone Thanks for the reply. I took the time to read the report, sobering. No one is infallible, it's a risky & unforgiving buisness. In aviation need to be aware and focused at all times, even us maintainers.
Is there a formation the remaining aircraft return to after an incident such as this? There is a tremendous sense of U.S.A. pride when watching the Navy and Air Force flying exhibitions. These pilots are risking and giving their lives for our country. Salute to Captain Kuss, RIP.
WHAT A TREMENDOUS LOSS FOR THE UNITED STATES. JEFFERY YOU WILL BE MISSED BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN. LOVE AND CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY. TEARS FROM NEBRASKA 🇺🇸🇺🇸
I see my earlier comment about the aircraft appearing to have plenty of forward velocity at the end of the dive and seemingly being "Pushed" unnaturally into the ground and this being of a concern to other airforces has been "Moderated". That's suspicious for a kick-off.
Fatigue is insidious and unforgiving. In the Airlines fatigue was recognized as being akin to intoxication and described as "Subtle Incapacitation". It is always an Airmans' responsibility to evaluate his personal readiness for flight. But, there are pressures, and mistakes are made. While the Captains' loss is no doubt tragic, it forces the understanding of how unforgiving aviation can be. My Condolences to the Family and his Squadron.
Godspeed to you Capt. Kuss, you'll always be an Angel in this lifetime n in the next !! God Bless you n to your loved one's my friend. Much love n Respect. 💙
I think it is safe to say that he died doing what he loved to do, RIP Capt. Jeff Kuss thank you for your service. on a side note: i don't know of any other fatal crashes by these professionals, hope i don't again.
Unfortunately, the Blue Angels have had dozens of crashes over the years, leading to the deaths of 27 pilots. That works out to about 1 in 10 Blue Angels dying on the job. It's a dangerous business, though thankfully, much safer in recent decades than in the early days of the unit.
I know his sister: Lt. Cmdr. Mike Gershon 13 July 1985: his Skyhawk collided with Lt. Andy Caputi during a show at Niagara Falls, Gershon was killed and Caputi ejected and parachuted to safety.
There are many people that die doing things they like to do. That does not make them any smarter or any better. Using the excuse he died doing something he loved is silly I would prefer to not to die doing something I love to do get it yet?.
GA pilot here... It looks like an accelerated stall. Stall speed increases with angle of attack. Three things difficult to get back when you give them up: The altitude above you, the runway behind you, and the fuel you left in the truck...RIP sir...
Same here but the Navy would have that data from the flight data recorder. It’s mounted on the seat and it’s hardened to withstand the ejection, fire and impact of the seat. We can arm chair quarterback this all we want. I worked around fighter pilots for 20 years, if I had to make a call it would be he wasn’t in tip top health that day and it affected his judgment. All of the fighter pilots I knew were fantastic with one thing in common. They don’t quit, they are their own worst critic and they hate failure. RIP Sir.
not to get into it...but the Hornet has very good AOA control at low speeds. The fly by wire capabilities allow you to control the jet at very high AOA and will limit your ability to "classically stall" the Jet. In this case the Jet was max performing (AOA and assuming thrust) but did not a have enough altitude to arrest the rate of decent and it pancaked in. Even tho the nose was level to slightly above the horizon the ROD was too much. The video clearly shows a let off in AOA prior to disappearing out of view behind the trees......assuming the pilot let go of the stick to innate ejection....but due to the ROD he was out of the survivable ejection envelope.
@wf4919 This thread is what I both love and hate about the internet... what you say 100% makes sense. After watching this video again, I agree with you that sadly, he was configuring for ejection without enough altitude. Your knowledge on this subject exceeds mine, and I have been educated, unlike the previous commentary. Why do these guys... often still living in their parents' basement in their 30's troll youtube with negativity? Thanks again, sir, for educating me... EDIT: Opps should have kept this gender neutral...
*_Former Boeing.... been up close and personal with our F/A-18 Super Hornets..._* I forgot about this tragic incident. Upon seeing attitude of aircraft as it was pancaking belly first into the ground and resulting fireball, I knew pilot had very little chance of surviving. The official report mentioned pilot ejecting through the fireball and his chute instantly destroyed. No chute, no deceleration, no chance to walk away. I have been to countless airshows and have watched in awe as the Blue Angels perform. It takes a special person with special skills to perform within feet of other aircraft. Blinking is discouraged but not forbidden. *_We all learn from incidents like this one. We hope to not make same mistake twice..._*
Very sad to see the great Blue Angels have this happen! I saw my first air show at cherry point in North Carolina when I was about five in 1952 and I have been an air show fan since!
*🕊Rest In Peace Captain Kuss🕊* 1:01 *"Oh God what are you doing".* It was obvious Capt Kuss wasn't following the planned maneuvers and that should have been immediately addressed by the Squadron leader on the radio. One minute into the flight he made TWO mistakes. I absolutely agree with the new SOP that dropped because of this tragedy. The Blue Angels have adopted the Go No Go directive. If a pilot doesn't feel as if they can perform to their physical or mental best. They can can call NO GO or not flying today and not be punished for it. They do not have replacement pilots at the ready so even if the pilot has something wrong with them they are encouraged to man up and fly anyways. That's the wrong attitude to have in this profession. If you have persistent headache or you are fatigued like Captain Kuss was. You should never fly. They should beable to test each pilot before each flight that shows their mental acuities are strong and their physical strength is where it needs to be before every flight. Someone should have grounded Kuss this day. The strains on a mans body during these maneuvers is extreme. Capt Kuss forgetting to sign his planes readiness sheet is a huge red flag and should have been addressed immediately. This job is based on habits and repetition and that's one of the first habits. Signing out your planes and he forgot to do it. This is a deadly job and in reality these things are going to happen. Expecting one of these pilots to remove them from their plane voluntarily is a pipe dream. *I Pray for the Capt Kuss and his family and Teammates.* This was many years ago but it's still sad.
I'm not a pilot but I am a scuba diver. We are taught from day one that anyone can thumb a dive. I don't know why a pilot wouldn't be expected to do the same.
"wasn't following the planned maneuvers"...except he was. Go back to the winter training tapes and you'll see it. The added barrel role was something the opposing solos have done for a while. It was just used against Captain Kuss because it wasn't written in the SOP.
@David Oenophile Oh really, how many hours do you have as a Hornet pilot? It's always GA pilots opinioning without all facts... It's not freestyle and there's no "hotdogging". They fly a very specific profile that is approved by Boeing engineers within the scope of the jet's flight envelope.
BA's don't have a backup pilot or way out? Well yeah, of course this happened. Anyone traveling knows there will be days sleep is impossible. Also personal problems (ie sick family member, divorce etc ) which limits concentration. Just another "employer" not caring about safety and putting on as cheap a show as possible.
I question the report: Looks to me like the horizontal stabilizer/elevator went neutral and quit pulling the nose up the last few seconds before impact. The report says that the decent rate was too fast for the F-18 to pull out of the dive, but he got the nose up to level and that's it. The rotation just stops! I would have expected the last few seconds would be him aggressively pulling up past level with the engines at max and increasing vapor above the wing as he forced it towards a power stall. Wonder if it's a computer restriction getting in the way?
They would go neutral just before impact as his hands were no longer on the stick and throttle but on the ejection handle. He attempted to eject too late. The ejection sequence was interrupted by the impact.
Excellent video. Crashes of military demonstration teams' planes are, fortunately, very rare. The precision, discipline, and training of these groups are of the highest standards, so it is even more tragic when we see something like this. The entire team grieves the loss, and, as a retired Navy officer, I can say, the entire Navy and Marine Corps grieved this tragic loss. Thank you for making this informative and respectful video.
God bless🙏🏼 to all you aviators. My sons marine aviator fly C130 little different machine, but you need situational awareness. I was a rescue diver and a fire fighter and sometimes you lose situational awareness and it can be deadly, prayers going out to all🇺🇸
As a pilot who has had aerobatics training, and owned a GA competition aircraft, retarding thrust at the top of a loop, or very shortly thereafter, is second nature. The 180 degree roll that follows is initiated with the ground fully in sight, so there’s no need for a sense of timing with that. Pilot error was the call, but that doesn’t seem to fill in all the blanks.
Agreed. Especially since the change from the old legacy to the super which is all digital and newer flybywire…. They seemed to jump to the platform really fast. I would t thought it would’ve taken a bit longer for the control logic and other systems to get changed for the type of flying the BA do. Not sure if this has anything to do with it but it is highly peculiar.
Hornet actually preforms better in max AB using full AOA....the problem is if you innate the maneuver at too low an altitude AND too high of a speed.... it doesn't matter. You also need to max perform the whole maneuver (aka don't ease the pull at all).
@@wf4919 being in full blower the entire time he was nose low really is confusing. A slick painted Hornet like that full AB is picking up speed in a hurry and no one knew that better than him.
@@J_JetClips So I assume the normal maneuver is not a max performance maneuver. When watching the Split S maneuver in years past the #6 Jet meters the pull to arrive I would guess 200' in the air level... ...then an aileron roll at show center. So the normal Habit pattern would not be max perform the jet and I assume be at idle. So the habit pattern (muscle memory) would work negatively against a situation of being lower and faster when the split S is performed. Compounding the issue is that if he was faster AND left Full Burner in throughout the Maneuver .....then It would be harder to bleed energy (speed) off and possibly arc (widen the maneuver) given that its harder to bleed energy off going nose low....and in this case pure vertical nose low.
I have two granddaughters who were outside playing when they saw the bellowing black smoke, they ran into the house to tell my daughter what they had just witnessed. My daughter told them it was just the smoke they use when flying the demonstration. My daughter ran outside to watch the Blue Angels and that's when she realized what really happened. Such a tragedy and sad day for our nation. RIP Sir!
looks like he started his move too low... he was pulling hard at the end but the plane entered an accelerated stall. that's about a 9 to 12 g pullout...even if he was trying he would not be able to pull the eject rings.
I kept waiting for the ejection seat to appear and my heart sank when it didn't. RIP to the pilot and prayers for the family. This is dangerous work and the loss of a great pilots never easy.
According to the description under the video the pilot did manage to eject, however he entered the fireball above the jet. This destroyed his parachute and he didn't survive.
His first priority was for the safety of civilians. There are several homes and apartments right there and this hero sacrificed himself to make sure that jet crashed in the field mext to the Sam Davis home.
@@poleandholefishing5179 In this case you are just romanticizing something that factually never happened. Your comment induces cringe. At no point did this pilot try to avoid anything on the ground, he was full back stick with full burner, no aileron. Ejected late and unfortunately paid the ultimate price. Why does every aviation accident have someone like you popping up to say the pilot is a hero, swerved at the last second to avoid an orphanage filled with babies? Cringe!
I looked at one just two days ago. Me and the thousands of people that watched the Blue Angels show in SC had a wonderful time. Now hopefully the Thunderbirds will be close to me next year so I can attend that show and enjoy myself there as well.
So because an aircraft crashes we are going to stop all air shows? If that is the case should we not stop everyone from recreationally driving down the interstate?
I'm an airline pilot for a small cargo airline that shall remain nameless [Fedex] and we have a LOT of former military pilots on staff. I have flown with all branches of the service, and I will rank them below: 1. Civilian only pilots. We are the most pragmatic and typically the best "sticks". And the most fun on layovers (!) Trust me.... 2. Navy pilots. These guys always fly a tight airplane, though they tend toward "slam-click" on layovers. Cold fish, but you don't have to watch them. Flying with one of these guys means a boring month. 3. Marine pilots. Nice guys, but excessively interested in cropping their hair short and making sure their uniform is utterly perfect. Another crew of slam-clicks who during layovers in Las Vegas or New Orleans probably sit in their hotel rooms. Reading their bibles... 4. USAF pilots: The mouthiest people in the world. Nauseatingly mouthy. And generally average pilots. Whatever Fox Network just said, you can bet these people will repeat like parrots. And they cannot do a proper crosswind landing to save their lives. I'm not sure they have a brain at all. And they think that they are the best of the best because... "I flew F-15's!". They are utterly convinced that their shit doesn't stink. -I flew as 727 flight engineer with "Mr. F15" for a week of Toronto-Memphis flights with a weekend layover and I watched the Captain grab the airplane from him (Leo Glunk) THREE TIMES in order to prevent an accident. Hello? 5. Army: I've only flown with one Army guy since the Army generally flies these "things" with 4000 parts whirling around in circles trying to kill you. He was so buttoned down in training and looked just like Casper Milktoast until I went out partying with him and this guy turned out to be an animal! He was pretty good, and I was actually kind of impressed. Army guys are the BEST on a layover, trust me. But be careful; There is about a 50/50 likelihood of police being involved in the evening if you are hanging with an Army guy.... 6. Coast Guard: Like Navy pilots, but a little more fun. A Coastie might actually go to dinner with you....
Similar experience - as an expatriate in multiple countries - crew from > 20 countries. Summary: Air Force: MQ9 Reaper is outstanding - let's leave it there. Navy pilots: Flew with lots of them. F4 carrier experience. Top guys. Very good handlers. Party animals. Chopper pilots: Whether military (army generally) or civilian they were good handlers - forever amazed they could sit back and relax during a flight. Very good handlers. Great company. Me: Civilian all the way DH80 - B747. Retired - never got over that. Look up every time I hear an aircraft. (But I flew in the best of times - with great people that earned respect) Captain Kuss....RIP What disturbs me enormously about these sort of enquiries is that the wrong people are in charge of the enquiry. It should be totally independent - it is not. It should be completely transparent with all the details public - it is not. The service is never wrong - for several decades at least. The individuals are required to perform at an incredible level at all times to a defined schedule. Even the "solos" are a team effort - the requirements of the team are non-negotiable. The official reports that follow these types of incidents always find fault in the operator rather than the system - pointing to circumstances/procedures/actions that were not properly executed - challenges that would not overwhelm a low time GA pilot with a moderate level of training. Example: Altitude as planned for the manoeuvre/ Afterburner off / Close throttles / Recovery check points Yet we are supposed to believe - on the day - that this was beyond the capability of the demonstrated extreme level of competence of a Navy display pilot.
@@johnd1727 John that makes little sense. Could you please, if you have the time, break that down and tell us what you are talking about? It almost looks like you have cut and pasted from some technical journal....
No, they’re constantly “serving their purpose” which is to recruit for the military, specifically flight training. I became a pilot because, as a kid, I was fascinated by the Thunderbirds performing at this same airport, Smyrna, back in the early 1970’s.
Typical, any thing that has any element of danger needs to be done way with. Cause we just can’t have risk. People, like this guy have ruined formula one and Indy car as well with over regulated safety to the point it’s dull and unwatchable.
This video presents never-before-seen exclusive footage showing the 2016 crash of a United States Navy Blue Angels F/A-18C Hornet, as well as the associated emergency response. The post-accident footage and photographs were obtained from a source who insisted on anonymity.
According to the command investigation report, Captain Jeffrey Kuss was fully qualified to fly his aircraft and was universally recognized as one of the most meticulous and professional Blue Angel pilots by his teammates. In addition, he had accumulated 1,686.5 total flight hours and had no previous military mishaps or flight violations. The Blue Angels were in Smyrna, Tennessee for the Great Tennessee Air Show and Kuss occupied the #6 position within the Blue Angels' final demonstration.
On June 2, 2016, Kuss performed a Tactical Demonstration of an F/A-18C aircraft during a practice flight in Smyrna, Tennessee. During the execution of a "Split S" maneuver, Kuss deviated from approved procedures which, compounded by several tactical errors and loss of situational awareness created a rate of descent during that maneuver that could not be arrested and resulted in ground impact. Based on the investigation, weather conditions and fatigue were contributing causal factors, but ultimately, the mishap was due to pilot error.
Several indicators from Kuss' behavior on the morning of the mishap suggest he was fatigued: Kuss did not sign his A sheet (accepting his aircraft) prior to the mishap flight and did not turn on his transponder (mode 3 IFF squawk) prior to take off for the mishap flight (both omissions were out of character). Additionally, he failed to retard the throttle out of afterburner during the mishap maneuver despite verbalizing his intent to do so on the radio.
On the day of the mishap, potential weather impacts of a scattered to broken cloud layer were discussed by Kuss and the Lead Solo. Clouds at about 3,000 feet near the projected flight path did not impact the solos ability to fly, but that weather was likely a contributing factor to Kuss' decision to initiate the "Split S" maneuver below the normal altitude. Airspeed higher than normal for the maneuver and the lower starting altitude limited decision-making opportunities and removed margins of error for corrections to the flight trajectory.
Kuss ejected into the fireball of his aircraft's explosion. This instantly incinerated Kuss's parachute, and Kuss did not decelerate.
Pilot error, in descent way way too long
@@swiftusmaximus5651 He didn't have the airspeed to pull out of it. He didn't have enough altitude to gain the necessary airspeed. He needed to eject sooner. If he climbed higher before the split-S, the mishap never would have happened. I'm sure you know this, I am just thinking out loud.
BA's don't have a backup pilot or way out? Well yeah, of course this happened. Anyone traveling knows there will be days sleep is impossible. Also personal problems (ie sick family member, divorce etc ) which limits concentration. Just another "employer" not caring about safety and putting on as cheap a show as possible.
@@TheCyberMantis yeah, he descended way too long for the altitude when he initiated that maneuver
GOD BLESS HIS BRAVE SOUL.....REMEMBER THE FALLIN..
I was a Marine RIO in the early '80s just before the Phantom was retired. The part about requesting time off if exhausted is a farce. If you have never been in military aviation you cannot possibly understand the pressure to perform. The slightest expression of doubt is seen as a "downing gripe". If the pilot had asked for time off from such a prestigious assignment, he might as well have asked for assignment back to the fleet.
That's not right.
They really should maintain alt pilots as well as aircraft! I frankly can’t see why they don’t!
People who have not been military aviators have no idea of the pressure pilots and crews are under to “get the X”. Me: CH53A/D pilot. Flight instructor, HT-8
Hear that... Been awake for days with 1/2 hr here and their.. do the job or find another, plus you don't want to let your buds bown...
@@jebb125 You have a bad attitude.
I grew up in Smyrna and was there when this happened. It was an absolute tragedy to say the least. The show went on the next day except the Blue Angels didn’t fly for obvious reasons. Shook the town for a while and people still have the RIP Kuss stickers on the cars around town. There is a beautiful memorial at the park directly across from the airport that overlooks the runway where they have a Blue Angel F18 on display. RIP Captain Kuss.
👍❤
That memorial is very nice! We were lucky to have a retired Admiral living in town to make that happen!
It was crazy! I was working right off Jefferson pk. and saw nearly the whole thing as well. Sad sad. The memorial turned out really awesome though.
🙏🙏
We pay our respects at the memorial any time we pass it in Smyrna. Not far from the Battle field of the Stones river .
While I've retired, I took part in building the Blue Angels aircraft at the depot in NAS Jax. It breaks my heart when an incident like this occurs. The pilots are true professionals in every aspect of their missions.
Nothing like being apart of the Armchair forces huh?
I too have built a Blue Angels F18C (it’s 1/48 scale and sits proudly in my display cabinet )
As a somewhat new resident of Jax area, had no idea this backstory. Very interesting to hear.
My Father had fueled the Angels when at SFO around 2000 ish… Very tight, strict rules and regulations with everything - one had blown a tire and that alone was a HUJ ordeal… So sad to see this!
Obviously not,,,crashed didnt it..
My son was in the Young Marines color guard at an airshow about 2 months prior to this crash. Captain Kuss and all the other Blue Angels were great with the kids. They took a lot of time to talk with them and posed for multiple pictures. We were all devastated to hear of this crash.
Godspeed, Captain. You are missed.
Altitude is Life.....R.I.P. and Condolences to his Family.
Yes it is, and lack of altitude should not be played with like a toy.
The crash did happen ! seven years ago and yes, he almost trapped me too!
It's supposed to be "7 (seven) years ago" - sorry about the typo caused in a plum dark room!
@@johnlong384How did he almost trap you to, if you don't mind me asking?
No matter the experience human error will always be a risk as aviation is not forgiving.
OR - the laws of Physics can not be broken. They always win out.
Life is not forgiving.
We are land species if we were meant to fly we would have been born with wings
@@randomstuff797lol we are using machines to fly, not by applying wings to our bodies, low IQ
He ' bought the farm' RIP.
I lived in Smyrna, Tennessee as a kid in the 70’s and up till 84. I used to see these guys practicing over our house all the time and even went to the air shows they had locally. There was a airport or military base close to home that they performed over. Hard to remember the exact details but, this video brought back memories. Too bad it was a sad way to bring them back.
I lived at Sewart AFB in Smyrna as well from 1965-1969. While the base was active, the only demonstration team that buzzed our house was the USAF Thunderbirds.
@@frankroberts9320 During the annual Smyrna air show they usually alternate years between the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels.
For anyone who hasn't seen them, I highly recommend it!!!
I think it was 1963 at an airshow in Big Spring Texas and I was 6 years old. A big cargo plane (believe it was a C-133) pulled up, stalled and crashed in an enormous fireball. I kept asking what happened and couldn't understand or accept that 6 people died in that fireball.
having watched the blue angels for many many years this was absolutely heartbreaking.
Fly high Captain Kuss! Such a talented pilot! You’re greatly missed by all of us! 😢
Sorry, being a military instructor Pilot I have to disagree with your statement, a talented pilot has to know when not to fly and be disciplined not to, he was not. In the flying world you don’t get a trophy all the time like you do in the civilian world!
@@jllee9189 didn’t he ask to not fly that day bc he was too tired to be flying? But also I agree with you there!
@@jllee9189just because he disobeyed doesn’t mean he wasn’t talented.
Very tragic accident, condolences to his family and friends from the UK….RIP Capt Kuss. 🇬🇧🇺🇸
I was a team member from 1996-1999. I was on the team when we too experienced the loss of 2 pilots and an aircraft in 1999 in Valdosta, GA at Moddy AFB....truly an awful experience for all. RIP Kojak
This wasn't Kojak, this was Kooch. Although it is Kojak's anniversary this week.
This fills my heart with sadness.
I have always loved the Blue Angels.
I love their commitment to excellence and recognize them as a symbol of freedom.
My deepest sympathy to the pilot's family and loved ones. My condolences to the team. Godspeed.
Reminds me of the 2015 Hawker Hunter crash in Shoreham, England. The pilot attempted a loop but failed to achieve sufficient altitude to complete the 360 degree manoeuvre. The jet slammed into a motorway killing several drivers but the pilot miraculously survived.
... and he got off a charge of manslaughter claiming some vague neurological condition. He is now pursuing a judicial review into the Coroner's findings. His incompetence has changed airshow regulations in the UK.
What a loss not only to the family, but to his blue angels family as well. It appeared that he had plenty enough time to eject and it’s heartbreaking to see that he didn’t. Prayers to this wonderful pilot for his service.
I spoke to some that were there and the odds of the plane hitting a near by apartment complex with a lot of people in them was very great during the ejection window. It is speculated by many that knew Capt. Kuss feel he gave his life to insure others would not lose theirs.
Had this been a normal pilot/F-18, I think you would have seen an attempted ejection. But for demonstration teams like the Blue Angels who always operate on the edge of disaster, I suspect you're often already past your ejection window before you realize you're in trouble.
From the city where the Blue Angels were conceived, condolences. They're a special group and I admire them much!
He did eject into the fireball.
In the notes in the description, it says he ejected into the fireball, which consumed his parachute and kept him from slowing down before impacting the ground.
I was a technician on Tomcats, we experienced a crash as a squadron as well as a community of other squadrons on base. We all feel it when these incidents occur. It happens to the best. It saddens me when top-notch pilots lose their lives doing what they love.
Who ever was on the radio knew as soon as he went into the stall he wasn’t high enough. My Grandfather died in 1933 trying to do a loop out of Bakersfield CA. He was the first one to fly airmail from S F to L A . Flying airplanes is something you do strictly out of love. Specially at the level Blue Angels fly
Thank you for posting this. The report really humanizes the incident and the unique pressures that are placed on the NFDS (and all flight demonstration teams) to perform at the cutting edge of physics and human endurance.
I was filming these guys Friday afternoon an hour or two before the mishap. Got home and saw the breaking news report, I felt great sorrow that day. I still have the videos but can’t make out which was #6. I was filming at Smyrna elementary not far from the Sam Davis home. The memorial reminds me every time I drive by it.
Man I remember that day. It was a really bad day for sure. That year the blue angels were supposed to perform a show in South Florida like they have done since I was a little boy but after this tragedy the entire season was cancelled. Instead a week or so later I saw the USAF Thunderbirds fly their F-16's toward the Opa-Locka airport. They agreed to come over that year and perform in place of the Blue Angels. I have been a big fan of the blue angels ever since I first saw them flying F4 Phantoms in 1975. I was a very young boy but I can still remember the absolute joy and excitement of watching these guys perform. RIP brother!
I was attached to an F A18 squadron VFA 151 the Vigilantes on the west coast out of Lemoore NAS in 1993. I was thier Intel specialist as an enlisted squid. Each day in the ready room working with them as they planed thier sorties I had the privilege of knowing them professionally and as real people with real lives and family that truly admired the risks they took each time they straped in. It's been 30 years but My respect and admiration for the FA18 pilots are seared in my mind forever. It takes a unique and daring person to strap themselves onto a rocket engine trust thier aircrew and focus on the mission. If you ever meet a naval aviator step it up 2 notches from a cup of coffee and buy them lunch, the tales and journeys you will hear will be well worth your time. And for all aviators that have chosen to serve this country,
BRAVO ZULU
Your service to the country and the people that make up this great nation is duely noted.
I S 2 Cathers
Rosario, i was stationed on an aircraft carrier on the west coast late 79/80,s, we used to put on mickey mouse ears and watch them take off and recover from vultures row!
While executing that maneuver, altitude, and energy package can box you in such that your a mathematical dead man when you commit the nose over the top... Breaks my heart… as a former F18 instructor who taught LLAT we talked continuously about required SA, this type of scenario and reviewed tapes of pop up attacks and air show maneuvers in which you pilots were boxed in at initiation. The most famous was probably Col. K at El Toro. He survived impact with the runway….
Almost every day, I jog by the Jeff Kuss Memorial at the park adjacent to the road leading to the airport. It's beautiful, but also a sad reminder. R.I.P., Captain.
I was working outside right off Jefferson pike, less than a mile away, when this happened and saw nearly the whole thing. He just suddenly dropped below the trees next to Sam Davis home and boom...big fireball rose up. It was crazy! We couldn't believe it! We had been enjoying the "private" airshow while working for a couple days and I have tons of pics and video of #6. So sad. The memorial is awesome though. I recommend everyone come see it. RIP Captain Kuss.🤙🏼
No matter how many hours or years of aviation experience any pilot has we can always never knowing when it’s our last flight.
thats why we should treat ever flight as if it was going to be our last.
Same with anything though like going for a drive or walking down the street
Even the best of the best need to rest..
I was initially suspicious that this would be some kind of cheesy video but clicked anyway. I was pleasantly surprised. Excellent information that was tactfully presented. Good job !
Except for the part of the medic standing next to the pilots covered body.
Reminds me a great deal of the El-Toro F-18 crash. I was at that airshow. Really weird feeling, but at least that pilot survived.
I was there as well. Hit the tarmac hard. Before that one, a stunt pilot crashed into the base chapel a few years before. El Toro was an incredible event every year, too bad Clinton closed the base.
He committed suicide a couple of years ago.
Military aviation is inherently a dangerous profession, and demonstration teams are the best of the best. This was a tragic mishap, apparently the result of pilot fatigue and overconfidence in his aircraft. I'm glad that these accidents are exceedingly rare but even a single one is a heartbreaking loss to his family and Blue Angels team.
Unfortunately, they are rare in combat, but increasing in flight demonstration teams. Being low to the ground provides little relief for mistakes.
Similar to the T7 that crashed at Shoreham in the UK. Insufficient height at the initiation of the manoeuvre caused by not adhering to an SOP.
"not adhering to SOP" agreed
I just don't get why he didn't get out. Damn! It was almost identical to the same maneuver that caused the opposing solo pilot for the Thunderbirds to punch out.
Arrogance and nonchalance is a real killer of pilots at all levels of experience.
I'm an old Marine pilot who flew many different jets and when I saw him coming out of the maneuver I knew it was too low for a recovery. It is a gut feeling but I felt sick at the start of his nose dive and his altitude. In those situations, there is no plane that can recover with a human pilot at the controls. Maybe a drone with no pilot, but you can bet that pilot was pulling every G he could stand. The same thing happened in Miramar CA when an F-18 couldn't pull out of a maneuver and landed very hard and flat but the pilot survived.
Back when this happened my heart fell, I've seen the video of the crash many times over the years, and my heart fell every time, and it just fell again watching this. R.I.P. Captain Kuss.
May this Pilot always Rest in peace! Praying for his family and friends.
I remember seeing the news about this from a local network affiliate and someone interviewing the mother and daughter occupying the house behind where this happened. Someone at that house was videotaping and the crash happened but was not caught on video. I just remember the mother asking the daughter if she saw a parachute and the daughter was crying saying no she didn't. The mother said "Oh God bless him." I'll never forget it.
This was sad. I had worked with Captain Kuss in the capacity of an air show in Rochester NY. He was as professional as it gets. Extremely nice and dedicated. He was the announcer for the BAs for that show. I was sad to learn of his accident
The diamond formation over the impact at 2:08 is absolutely heartbreaking. Blue skies and tailwinds, Captain Jeff Kuss.
I was a Navy Reservist at Smyrna at the time of the crash. I, along with about 50 other Reservists, spent several days recovering aircraft wreckage at the site. It was moved to the TBI hanger on the Smryna airbase where we palletized and cataloged the recovered pieces. They were trucked back to Pensacola. The photograph shown in the video is of some of that wreckage in the hangar. I do not know where these photos came from, as photography was prohibited at the scene, although I had to take some For Official Use Only photographs for inclusion in my after action report to my commanding officer. This is NOT one of my photos. The whole incident was tragic, and difficult for those of us that worked the recovery. We were tasked with finding Captain Kuss' personal effects, and did find components of his watch and a few other items. Exposure to the carbon-fiber and JP fuels put all of us on health-impairment watchlists, and the recovery of biological remains had psychological effects on others.
Sorry you went through that but his family appreciates it I'm sure
A day I’ll remember. I was working at BNA when they flew into town. I watched the Team fly down the runway..smoke on, but then it was time to go back to work. When I got home the crash was all over the news. I read the accident report just after it was released about a year later. The accident chain began before they even left Pensacola.
I learnt about the crash of one of the blues back in 2016, in 2019 whilst visiting a friend, i took him to the memorial site, it's quite impressive. R.i.P. & ~Salute~Jeffrey Kuss. Got to see the blues at Andrews Airforce Base, what a Fantastic Display Team.
I was a crew member on C-141 and had 2000 hrs in 4 years. I can tell you I flew all the dang time on some 10-12 hour flight even. When you make several sorties a day, loading and unloading it takes time. 16-hour days wheels up till wheels down then ground time, preflight unloading refueling etc. Presidential support was 27-hour days. Two trips to Iran would burn me out for the month. After this many hours, I was DNIF (Duties not involving flying) Most times if you were in good standing and not a shirker we did nothing but take it easy. That was a lot of flying. This was a long time ago, but I think we burned out our monthly max flight time at 120 hours per month and something like 330 in a quarter. After that, we could not fly for a certain length of time. Crew rest was very important. Fatigue is cumulative, you can not miss a lot of rest/sleep and then sleep 12 hours and make it up. It does not work that way. Preflight crew rest at the time was 24 hours inviolate, or you could declare another rest period. Post-flight was something like 3 days crew rest after 9 days of flying the line. I never declared because someone knocked on my door or bothered me for some duty, but it was in the regs. I remember one time we lost two planes one day. Furthermore, I think one was in Europe and one in Alaska. It has been so long that I can't remember for sure. I think the reason for one crash was very bad wind shear. Our wing commander called a mass crew meeting and laid down the law to make sure we were on our toes. One thing that became policy was NO idle chatter below 10K feet on approach eyes outside and on instruments. We lost another one on the side of a mountain at one other time. I think it was in Bolivia. The Spanish controllers vectored the pilot below safe minimums, and they planted high up on the side of a mountain. I remember the families on the base did not know who it was on the crew. They were very afraid and upset. We had like 60 141s and we flew worldwide. So as you can imagine, we had crews all over the world going over the world. After that fatal accident, crews flying in South America from our base had to have one crew member that was fluent in the Spanish languages. To this day, I feel the pain of losing crew in air accidents and war. Not long ago, I saw a video of the B-52 that crashed because of a Hot Dog Col. piloting the plane that was practicing for an air show. They even had a standardization officer on the crew, and he did not stop the dangerous, illegal maneuvers in time. My Squadron building was named for a Loadmaster that was killed in Nam. The shell came through the floor, and no one knew he had been hit till some time later.
This is late, but “RIP Captain Kuss.”
120 hrs a month is insane. I flew F-4c's a LONG time ago. We were dead-assed tired after 30-40hr's. We were doing ordinance drops, which is tiring. A 4hr mission was a long flight! Being PIC is more stressful, but I can't imagine being locked in that alluminum tube that long!
@@j.w.perkins6004 Well, we were not on fighters. We were on C-141A heavy cargo jets and could get up and go get a cup of coffee, smoke or use the restroom. Sometimes we had a comfort pallet with refrigerators ovens and extra restrooms and barrels of coffee on board.
Plus, we did not pull the Gs you guys did. I would think the stress would be far less for us also. But we were really bushed after a week of 16 to 27-hour days (for Presidential support.) That does not count showing up a couple of hours early preflight and loading, that was wheels up to wheels down, and after flight unloading did not count as time. I was always at least 2 hours early because I never knew what we would carry, anything from Unmentionables to boot and onions. Flying after 12-16 hours (for sleep), [we were not flight refuelable at the time] was hard and very tiring. Three week straight was the longest at one time I was flying the line when Nam was being evacuated. One time the Flight Surgeon found out I had gone far past 330 hrs a quarter. I was directed to go DNIF. I actually went several weeks in which I did absolutely nothing. My hat is off to you anyway for the labor and courage you and your guys showed defending us and our country.
@@j.w.perkins6004my father flew F-4Cs with the 12thTFW out of Ubon and Cam Rahn, ‘65-‘66.
..I was a Hornet Maintenance Chief...retired from Naval Aviation...worked the flight deck with these guys and the pilots of the other birds on the boat...most folks have no idea what it does to us deck crews when one of our Pilots, shipmates, friends is taken from the squadron in one of these mishaps...
This happened in the county I live in. I remember vividly when this happened. The roads nearby were shut down and I had just became a firefighter, I didn't respond to the crash as it was in a different jurisdiction. But There is now a memorial for Captain Jeff Kuss at a sports park a few miles down the road, With a statue of Capt. Kuss' life size F/A-18
saw the same type accident happen years ago at El Toro MCAS during Blue Angels visit. A Marine F-18C attempted the same maneuver with the same results. The accident investigation concluded that the maneuver was attempted at too low an altitude which did not allow for adequate recovery from the inverted flight loss of lift on the aircraft
It’s so important to have thorough self assessment for fatigue and anything else that could keep oneself from being at peak performance.
Today I’m laying on the couch instead of operating a very dangerous vehicle because I woke up with numb lips and felt a little light headed when making breakfast. I felt fine otherwise and was confident in my ability but I called it off. Regretting the decision and feeling restless, I decided to go for a drive and felt like I didn’t have my normal situational awareness. Felt like I was making mistakes that I would never do. I guess I made the right choice. Probably saved my own life by “taking a knee” twelve hours ago.
You can never be comfortable or act like things are routine, to be a pilot like this you must always be on high alert and in tune with every detail. He should have grounded himself until he was rested, one of the hardest things to master is self-awareness and admitting that you are not 100% ready to fly, you may get away with it 90% of the time but that other 10% will kill you. RIP
I highly doubt that fatigue was the reason he crashed. I don't think they would admit a maintenance error are aircraft failure.
My husband a retired marsoc raider 16 years in 9 of that was in Iraq and Afghanistan, watched and read this with me,He said you don't request time off in the military,they run you ragged until you either collapse or get killed,It's a shame this Man died especially if it's due to fatigue
So sad. My dad was a Navy pilot (1943-1968). He was on two carriers during his career. Started with props and retired with jets. He didn’t say much about his time flying. I do have a picture of him next to a jet he flew in the 50’s.
I was stuck in a traffic jam with my friends in san Francisco next to fisherman's warf on fleet week 1996 and got to see the Blue Angels for the second time they were doing maneuvers around the Transamerica building when I looked at the Golden gate bridge and seen the steth bomber flying through the up rights of the bridge and over Alcatraz as the blue Angels kept flying the city it was one of the most Awesome things I ever seen and always will be
I can't even imagine the horror his teammates must have felt at the sight of his impact. Given the the skill level and super extensive training these pilots receive, something immediately catastrophic must have brought that ship down. These guys don't just fly into the ground from loss of situational awareness.
the real reason will probably never be shared with anyone not in the need to know.
This had me in tears.
Fair winds and following seas, shipmate.
😢
I met him in Pensacola in March of that year. Then I saw them flyover Nashville that morning coming into Smyrna. Then I was at the pool when I got the alert that one of them had crashed. RIP Captain Jeff Kuss, USMC
Wow! This was obviously a terrible tragedy. Unfortunately human error figured into this accident. RIP Captain Kuss and condolences to your family and friends.
May God comfort his family. My sincerest condolences.
As a blue angel I can confirm that when you push hard to fart and get the lighter lit in just the right spot....
June 2 2016 was a bad day, Capt Kuss died and a Thunderbird went down but thankfully ejected. Just saw the Blues the week before the crash. They had trouble with jet so they left it behind. After the crash it sat for a while and people made a memorial outside the fence.
Well written explanitory note.
Post-Vac. ???
So similar to the Thunderbird crash at Mountain Home AFB
I live up north in northern california but was raised down in So-Cal miles away from the El Toro Marine base.
From the 80's till the 90' my family attended every airshow...
I unfortunately was present during an accident were we lost
Pilots. Not the Angels though. This is unheard of.
I'm stunned over the video and heart broken.
As NAVY retired aviation expert, it sad to see this. My heart and love to all members and families. God Bless all
I didn't see an ejection, or did I miss something ?
Albeit this is from 2016, now 7 years ago, not easy to watch.
RIP Cpt. Kuss.
Ejection was basically below the tree line and then consumed in the fireball.
@@cup_and_cone Thanks for the reply. I took the time to read the report, sobering. No one is infallible, it's a risky & unforgiving buisness. In aviation need to be aware and focused at all times, even us maintainers.
Is there a formation the remaining aircraft return to after an incident such as this? There is a tremendous sense of U.S.A. pride when watching the Navy and Air Force flying exhibitions. These pilots are risking and giving their lives for our country. Salute to Captain Kuss, RIP.
Thank you, haven't seen these before
WHAT A TREMENDOUS LOSS FOR THE UNITED STATES. JEFFERY YOU WILL BE MISSED BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN. LOVE AND CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY. TEARS FROM NEBRASKA 🇺🇸🇺🇸
Downvote for all caps.
@@nonconsensualopinion FREE COUNTRY USE WHAT I WANT THANK YOU. WTF
@@nonconsensualopinion ?sdrawkcab egassem ym gnitirw rof em etovnwod ot gniog uoy erA
@@JoanClaussen-tq8et WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING….?
@@Jimmythefish577 I AM AN EDITOR. I EXPRESS HOW I CHOOSE.
This was a flight of self deliverance.
@@crime_scoper-x1466 ,
That is what self deliverance means.
I see my earlier comment about the aircraft appearing to have plenty of forward velocity at the end of the dive and seemingly being "Pushed" unnaturally into the ground and this being of a concern to other airforces has been "Moderated". That's suspicious for a kick-off.
This is called "momentum" and is mainly tied in with speed and mass.
Seen this same thing in many air shows. Very sad it continues to be repeated.
Fatigue is insidious and unforgiving. In the Airlines fatigue was recognized as being akin to intoxication and described as "Subtle Incapacitation". It is always an Airmans' responsibility to evaluate his personal readiness for flight. But, there are pressures, and mistakes are made. While the Captains' loss is no doubt tragic, it forces the understanding of how unforgiving aviation can be. My Condolences to the Family and his Squadron.
Very sad. When you do aerial you have floors and expected ceilings along with airspeed metrics. RIP Capt Kuss.
Godspeed to you Capt. Kuss, you'll always be an Angel in this lifetime n in the next !!
God Bless you n to your loved one's my friend. Much love n Respect. 💙
Sad very sad for the pilot and family and for all of us that love these machines in motion. To my hero the pilot rest in peace.
I think it is safe to say that he died doing what he loved to do, RIP Capt. Jeff Kuss thank you for your service. on a side note: i don't know of any other fatal crashes by these professionals, hope i don't again.
Unfortunately, the Blue Angels have had dozens of crashes over the years, leading to the deaths of 27 pilots. That works out to about 1 in 10 Blue Angels dying on the job. It's a dangerous business, though thankfully, much safer in recent decades than in the early days of the unit.
I know his sister: Lt. Cmdr. Mike Gershon 13 July 1985: his Skyhawk collided with Lt. Andy Caputi during a show at Niagara Falls, Gershon was killed and Caputi ejected and parachuted to safety.
There are many people that die doing things they like to do. That does not make them any smarter or any better. Using the excuse he died doing something he loved is silly I would prefer to not to die doing something I love to do get it yet?.
GA pilot here... It looks like an accelerated stall. Stall speed increases with angle of attack. Three things difficult to get back when you give them up: The altitude above you, the runway behind you, and the fuel you left in the truck...RIP sir...
Same here but the Navy would have that data from the flight data recorder. It’s mounted on the seat and it’s hardened to withstand the ejection, fire and impact of the seat. We can arm chair quarterback this all we want. I worked around fighter pilots for 20 years, if I had to make a call it would be he wasn’t in tip top health that day and it affected his judgment. All of the fighter pilots I knew were fantastic with one thing in common. They don’t quit, they are their own worst critic and they hate failure. RIP Sir.
By golly you cracked the case!
You should copy your post here and send it to the Navy ASAP!
not to get into it...but the Hornet has very good AOA control at low speeds. The fly by wire capabilities allow you to control the jet at very high AOA and will limit your ability to "classically stall" the Jet. In this case the Jet was max performing (AOA and assuming thrust) but did not a have enough altitude to arrest the rate of decent and it pancaked in. Even tho the nose was level to slightly above the horizon the ROD was too much. The video clearly shows a let off in AOA prior to disappearing out of view behind the trees......assuming the pilot let go of the stick to innate ejection....but due to the ROD he was out of the survivable ejection envelope.
@wf4919
This thread is what I both love and hate about the internet... what you say 100% makes sense. After watching this video again, I agree with you that sadly, he was configuring for ejection without enough altitude. Your knowledge on this subject exceeds mine, and I have been educated, unlike the previous commentary. Why do these guys... often still living in their parents' basement in their 30's troll youtube with negativity? Thanks again, sir, for educating me... EDIT: Opps should have kept this gender neutral...
*_Former Boeing.... been up close and personal with our F/A-18 Super Hornets..._*
I forgot about this tragic incident. Upon seeing attitude of aircraft as it was pancaking belly first into the ground and resulting fireball, I knew pilot had very little chance of surviving. The official report mentioned pilot ejecting through the fireball and his chute instantly destroyed. No chute, no deceleration, no chance to walk away.
I have been to countless airshows and have watched in awe as the Blue Angels perform. It takes a special person with special skills to perform within feet of other aircraft. Blinking is discouraged but not forbidden.
*_We all learn from incidents like this one. We hope to not make same mistake twice..._*
Very sad to see the great Blue Angels have this happen! I saw my first air show at cherry point in North Carolina when I was about five in 1952 and I have been an air show fan since!
Saw my first BA show in ‘62 at BNAS in Maine….for some reason I now forget what the jets were!
I would rather die doing something I love... than to do without doing.
I would rather die doing something I love than love something that would.
When I saw the aircraft drop to the tops of the trees I prayed for an ejection. Prayers for the family and the blue angel community.
“Rolling out”
“No, I’m not”
Calm before his final storm
Rest in Peace
*🕊Rest In Peace Captain Kuss🕊*
1:01 *"Oh God what are you doing".* It was obvious Capt Kuss wasn't following the planned maneuvers and that should have been immediately addressed by the Squadron leader on the radio. One minute into the flight he made TWO mistakes.
I absolutely agree with the new SOP that dropped because of this tragedy. The Blue Angels have adopted the Go No Go directive. If a pilot doesn't feel as if they can perform to their physical or mental best. They can can call NO GO or not flying today and not be punished for it. They do not have replacement pilots at the ready so even if the pilot has something wrong with them they are encouraged to man up and fly anyways. That's the wrong attitude to have in this profession. If you have persistent headache or you are fatigued like Captain Kuss was. You should never fly. They should beable to test each pilot before each flight that shows their mental acuities are strong and their physical strength is where it needs to be before every flight. Someone should have grounded Kuss this day. The strains on a mans body during these maneuvers is extreme. Capt Kuss forgetting to sign his planes readiness sheet is a huge red flag and should have been addressed immediately. This job is based on habits and repetition and that's one of the first habits. Signing out your planes and he forgot to do it. This is a deadly job and in reality these things are going to happen. Expecting one of these pilots to remove them from their plane voluntarily is a pipe dream.
*I Pray for the Capt Kuss and his family and Teammates.*
This was many years ago but it's still sad.
I'm not a pilot but I am a scuba diver. We are taught from day one that anyone can thumb a dive. I don't know why a pilot wouldn't be expected to do the same.
"wasn't following the planned maneuvers"...except he was. Go back to the winter training tapes and you'll see it. The added barrel role was something the opposing solos have done for a while. It was just used against Captain Kuss because it wasn't written in the SOP.
@David Oenophile Oh really, how many hours do you have as a Hornet pilot? It's always GA pilots opinioning without all facts... It's not freestyle and there's no "hotdogging". They fly a very specific profile that is approved by Boeing engineers within the scope of the jet's flight envelope.
At that point, the flight leader should have called "Knock it Off" and had the group fly out of the demo area and regroup.
BA's don't have a backup pilot or way out? Well yeah, of course this happened. Anyone traveling knows there will be days sleep is impossible. Also personal problems (ie sick family member, divorce etc ) which limits concentration. Just another "employer" not caring about safety and putting on as cheap a show as possible.
Never mind, this was Smyrna years ago
I question the report: Looks to me like the horizontal stabilizer/elevator went neutral and quit pulling the nose up the last few seconds before impact. The report says that the decent rate was too fast for the F-18 to pull out of the dive, but he got the nose up to level and that's it. The rotation just stops! I would have expected the last few seconds would be him aggressively pulling up past level with the engines at max and increasing vapor above the wing as he forced it towards a power stall. Wonder if it's a computer restriction getting in the way?
They would go neutral just before impact as his hands were no longer on the stick and throttle but on the ejection handle. He attempted to eject too late. The ejection sequence was interrupted by the impact.
Excellent video. Crashes of military demonstration teams' planes are, fortunately, very rare. The precision, discipline, and training of these groups are of the highest standards, so it is even more tragic when we see something like this. The entire team grieves the loss, and, as a retired Navy officer, I can say, the entire Navy and Marine Corps grieved this tragic loss. Thank you for making this informative and respectful video.
RIP, Capt. Jeff Kuss. It looks like his wingman almost had a tailstrike when he took off, it was a bit... "sporty"!
i cant tell if he did or not its really close RIP to Capt Jeff Kuss
That was the other jet.
@@Pahrump To show respect something you clearly dont know about
Wrong aircraft
@@Pahrump do you know what RIP means lol or are you just being ignorant?
Very sad in spite of the ejection more bad happened. Sleep is important.
God bless🙏🏼 to all you aviators. My sons marine aviator fly C130 little different machine, but you need situational awareness. I was a rescue diver and a fire fighter and sometimes you lose situational awareness and it can be deadly, prayers going out to all🇺🇸
Great presentation, great documentation, great job
There are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but not many old bold pilots. RIP.
As a pilot who has had aerobatics training, and owned a GA competition aircraft, retarding thrust at the top of a loop, or very shortly thereafter, is second nature. The 180 degree roll that follows is initiated with the ground fully in sight, so there’s no need for a sense of timing with that. Pilot error was the call, but that doesn’t seem to fill in all the blanks.
Agreed. Especially since the change from the old legacy to the super which is all digital and newer flybywire…. They seemed to jump to the platform really fast. I would t thought it would’ve taken a bit longer for the control logic and other systems to get changed for the type of flying the BA do. Not sure if this has anything to do with it but it is highly peculiar.
failure to adhere to SOP was the call, due to fatigue..
Hornet actually preforms better in max AB using full AOA....the problem is if you innate the maneuver at too low an altitude AND too high of a speed.... it doesn't matter. You also need to max perform the whole maneuver (aka don't ease the pull at all).
@@wf4919 being in full blower the entire time he was nose low really is confusing. A slick painted Hornet like that full AB is picking up speed in a hurry and no one knew that better than him.
@@J_JetClips So I assume the normal maneuver is not a max performance maneuver. When watching the Split S maneuver in years past the #6 Jet meters the pull to arrive I would guess 200' in the air level... ...then an aileron roll at show center. So the normal Habit pattern would not be max perform the jet and I assume be at idle. So the habit pattern (muscle memory) would work negatively against a situation of being lower and faster when the split S is performed. Compounding the issue is that if he was faster AND left Full Burner in throughout the Maneuver .....then It would be harder to bleed energy (speed) off and possibly arc (widen the maneuver) given that its harder to bleed energy off going nose low....and in this case pure vertical nose low.
I have two granddaughters who were outside playing when they saw the bellowing black smoke, they ran into the house to tell my daughter what they had just witnessed. My daughter told them it was just the smoke they use when flying the demonstration. My daughter ran outside to watch the Blue Angels and that's when she realized what really happened. Such a tragedy and sad day for our nation. RIP Sir!
Angel down...😔 condolences to the team and the pilots family
Fatigue
looks like he started his move too low... he was pulling hard at the end but the plane entered an accelerated stall. that's about a 9 to 12 g pullout...even if he was trying he would not be able to pull the eject rings.
He ejected but the fireball burned away his parachute
There was no stall.
How about putting the incident date in the title? ?
I kept waiting for the ejection seat to appear and my heart sank when it didn't.
RIP to the pilot and prayers for the family. This is dangerous work and the loss of a great pilots never easy.
According to the description under the video the pilot did manage to eject, however he entered the fireball above the jet. This destroyed his parachute and he didn't survive.
His first priority was for the safety of civilians. There are several homes and apartments right there and this hero sacrificed himself to make sure that jet crashed in the field mext to the Sam Davis home.
@@poleandholefishing5179 In this case you are just romanticizing something that factually never happened. Your comment induces cringe. At no point did this pilot try to avoid anything on the ground, he was full back stick with full burner, no aileron. Ejected late and unfortunately paid the ultimate price. Why does every aviation accident have someone like you popping up to say the pilot is a hero, swerved at the last second to avoid an orphanage filled with babies?
Cringe!
At some point we all need to look hard at the value of flying airshow displays.
Far more people die in cars. Should we look at limiting those as well?
@@danielh1708 How many flying cars have you seen?
I looked at one just two days ago. Me and the thousands of people that watched the Blue Angels show in SC had a wonderful time. Now hopefully the Thunderbirds will be close to me next year so I can attend that show and enjoy myself there as well.
It's been looked at. That's why they fly. One of the best recruiting tools out there.
So because an aircraft crashes we are going to stop all air shows? If that is the case should we not stop everyone from recreationally driving down the interstate?
I'm an airline pilot for a small cargo airline that shall remain nameless [Fedex] and we have a LOT of former military pilots on staff.
I have flown with all branches of the service, and I will rank them below:
1. Civilian only pilots. We are the most pragmatic and typically the best "sticks". And the most fun on layovers (!)
Trust me....
2. Navy pilots. These guys always fly a tight airplane, though they tend toward "slam-click" on layovers. Cold fish, but you don't have to watch them. Flying with one of these guys means a boring month.
3. Marine pilots. Nice guys, but excessively interested in cropping their hair short and making sure their uniform is utterly perfect.
Another crew of slam-clicks who during layovers in Las Vegas or New Orleans probably sit in their hotel rooms. Reading their bibles...
4. USAF pilots: The mouthiest people in the world. Nauseatingly mouthy. And generally average pilots. Whatever Fox Network just said, you can bet these people will repeat like parrots. And they cannot do a proper crosswind landing to save their lives. I'm not sure they have a brain at all. And they think that they are the best of the best because...
"I flew F-15's!". They are utterly convinced that their shit doesn't stink.
-I flew as 727 flight engineer with "Mr. F15" for a week of Toronto-Memphis flights with a weekend layover and I watched the Captain grab the airplane from him (Leo Glunk) THREE TIMES in order to prevent an accident. Hello?
5. Army: I've only flown with one Army guy since the Army generally flies these "things" with 4000 parts whirling around in circles trying to kill you. He was so buttoned down in training and looked just like Casper Milktoast until I went out partying with him and this guy turned out to be an animal! He was pretty good, and I was actually kind of impressed. Army guys are the BEST on a layover, trust me. But be careful; There is about a 50/50 likelihood of police being involved in the evening if you are hanging with an Army guy....
6. Coast Guard: Like Navy pilots, but a little more fun. A Coastie might actually go to dinner with you....
You sound like an absolute joy to fly with. Good luck with the contract.
Whatever you say Leo.
Q: So you bought Cubie from David Long?
The Army guys were probably Warrant Officers in their prior life.....lol.
Similar experience - as an expatriate in multiple countries - crew from > 20 countries.
Summary:
Air Force: MQ9 Reaper is outstanding - let's leave it there.
Navy pilots: Flew with lots of them. F4 carrier experience. Top guys. Very good handlers. Party animals.
Chopper pilots: Whether military (army generally) or civilian they were good handlers - forever amazed they could sit back and relax during a flight. Very good handlers. Great company.
Me: Civilian all the way DH80 - B747. Retired - never got over that. Look up every time I hear an aircraft.
(But I flew in the best of times - with great people that earned respect)
Captain Kuss....RIP
What disturbs me enormously about these sort of enquiries is that the wrong people are in charge of the enquiry.
It should be totally independent - it is not.
It should be completely transparent with all the details public - it is not.
The service is never wrong - for several decades at least.
The individuals are required to perform at an incredible level at all times to a defined schedule.
Even the "solos" are a team effort - the requirements of the team are non-negotiable.
The official reports that follow these types of incidents always find fault in the operator rather than the system - pointing to circumstances/procedures/actions that were not properly executed - challenges that would not overwhelm a low time GA pilot with a moderate level of training.
Example: Altitude as planned for the manoeuvre/ Afterburner off / Close throttles / Recovery check points
Yet we are supposed to believe - on the day - that this was beyond the capability of the demonstrated extreme level of competence of a Navy display pilot.
@@johnd1727 John that makes little sense. Could you please, if you have the time, break that down and tell us what you are talking about?
It almost looks like you have cut and pasted from some technical journal....
Biloxi has Thunder on the Sound this coming weekend. I’m hoping everything goes well. Sorry for the loss of this pilot.
Similar to Thunderbird accident at Mountain Home in 03 ... so sorry this guy didn't get out😢
I think these flying demonstrations have served their purpose, can we put them to bed now? RIP.
If YOU have a problem with these demonstrations then YOU should refrain from aerobatic flying.
No, they’re constantly “serving their purpose” which is to recruit for the military, specifically flight training. I became a pilot because, as a kid, I was fascinated by the Thunderbirds performing at this same airport, Smyrna, back in the early 1970’s.
Typical, any thing that has any element of danger needs to be done way with. Cause we just can’t have risk.
People, like this guy have ruined formula one and Indy car as well with over regulated safety to the point it’s dull and unwatchable.
Getting out of bed and leaving the house is proving way too dangerous, it’s about time the practice was outlawed!