F-18 Crash In Calif. Neighborhood Kills 3

Fighter Jet Crashes In San Diego Residential Area, Destroying 2 Homes; Pilot Ejected Safely

(CBS/AP)  A military fighter jet preparing to land at a Marine base crashed in a densely populated San Diego neighborhood Monday, killing three people on the ground and destroying two houses, officials said.

Mayor Jerry Sanders said two people on the ground were killed. Fire officials said the deaths were at a home where two children, a mother and a grandmother were believed to be inside. Officials did not immediately know who died. Shortly thereafter, the fire department confirmed that a third person on the ground had been killed, adding that a fourth person was missing and that the search had been suspended until Tuesday morning.

"We just know that four people were inside, and three of them have been accounted for," Fire Department spokesman Maurice Luque said.

The pilot, who ended up hanging by his parachute from a tree in a canyon beneath the neighborhood, was in stable condition at a naval hospital in San Diego, said Miramar spokeswoman 1st Lt. Katheryn Putnam. The pilot was returning from training on the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln off the San Diego coast when the plane went down, she said.

Putnam had no details on a possible cause. Investigators will review information from a flight data recorder, and there was no indication the pilot was using alcohol or drugs, she said.

Authorities said smoke rising from the wreckage was toxic and evacuated about 20 homes. By Monday night only six homes remained evacuated because they were uninhabitable, said San Diego police spokeswoman Monica Munoz.

There was little sign of the plane in the smoking ruins, but a piece of cockpit sat on the roof of one home, and a charred jet engine lay on a street near a parked camper. A parachute was visible in the canyon below a row of houses.

The neighborhood in the University City section of San Diego smelled of jet fuel and smoke. Ambulances, fire trucks and police cars choked the streets. A Marine Corps bomb disposal truck was there, although police assured residents there was no ordnance aboard the jet.

Neighbors described chaos after the jet tore into the houses and flames erupted.

"It was pandemonium," said Paulette Glauser, 49, who lived six houses away. "Neighbors were running down toward us in a panic, of course."

Jets frequently streak over the neighborhood, two miles from the base, but residents said the imperiled aircraft was flying extremely low.

Jordan Houston was looking out his back window three blocks from the crash when the plane passed by. A parachute ejected from the craft, followed by a loud explosion and a mushroom-shaped cloud.

Houston, 25, said a truck exploded after the driver backed over flaming debris and then jumped from the cab yelling, "I just filled up my gas tank."

The Marine Corps said the pilot was part of the Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101, based at Miramar.

The plane crashed near Interstate 805 around noon Monday about two miles from the base as it prepared to land, said Ian Gregor, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman.

A large, busy area of the city was blocked off to traffic, creating a long backup on Interstate 805.

Students at nearby University City High School were kept locked in classrooms, but there was no damage to the campus and no one was injured, said Barbara Prince, a school secretary.

There was little sign of the plane in the smoky ruins, but a piece of cockpit sat on the roof of one home. A parachute lay in a canyon below the neighborhood.

The F-18 Hornet has long been the workhorse of the Navy and Marines since its design in the 1970's, reports CBS News correspondent Sandra Hughes. However, all F-18 models were recently grounded after cracks were found on a hinge in the aircraft. Only a small number were found to have similar cracks, and the rest returned to the air.

Steve Krasner, who lives a few blocks away in the earthquake-prone region, said he first thought the shaking generated by the crash was the long-anticipated "Big One."

He was in his kitchen when he heard two loud explosions and looked outside, then heard a larger blast.

"The house shook; the ground shook. It was like I was frozen in my place," Krasner said.

"It was bigger than any earthquake I ever felt," he said. "The flames were billowing overhead."

Ben Dishman, 55, said he heard what sounded like "a loud gunshot" followed by an explosion.

"It was quite violent," said Dishman, resting on his couch after back surgery. "I hear the jets from Miramar all the time. I often worry that one of them will hit one of these homes. It was inevitable. I feel very lucky."

The F-18 is a supersonic jet used widely in the Navy and Marine Corps and by the Navy's stunt-flying Blue Angels. An F-18 crashed at Miramar in November 2006, but the pilot ejected safely.

Miramar, well known for its role in the movie "Top Gun," is home to some 10,000 Marines. It was operated by the Navy until 1996.

And for the base bashers %u2013 up here at NAS Whidbey Island, the Navy is going to change from Prowlers to Growlers. That*s right the %u201318. The Navy has already figured out the new runway safety parameters required, and of course, people are bellyaching that they will not be able to turn their cow pastures into condo*s. Greed rears it*s head again.

Part 2
Engines are on inspection cycles. I forgot how many hours on the 18*s motor prior to full removal, but to give you an example, it is 750 hours on a EA-6B Prowler here at NAS Whidbey. At that point, the motor is pulled and broken down for a complete rebuild at a cost of $250,000.00 of consumable parts. Seldom is this done at the very same time, which means that normally the hours of use varies greatly between port and starboard motors on the same jet. This means that it has to be something in common with both motors such as bad gas, or out of gas (both very unlikely), or maybe some computer or instrument failure.

TangoUniforn is right, if there is no way to control the bird, there is no reason to kill yourself too. I*d challenge anyone to do it any way differently.
I%u2019m glad the Marine is O.K., but I know that he is going to need some help that he won%u2019t be able to ask for. He is going to wish that he rode the bird in, regardless if that would have helped keep anyone safe on the ground. One of the first things I learned at NWC C.L. was story of the Navy pilot who rode a QF-86 into the ground to keep it from hitting the grade school by the back gate.

part 1
It was reported that a congressional aide said both engines of the F/A-18D jet fighter failed before the aircraft crashed. Why was an %u201Caid%u201D briefed and allowed to leak this information? That%u2019s the first thing.

The second thing is that it is impossible for both engines to fail on their own. How do I know? Well, that*s kind of simple. Twenty-one years in Naval aviation, and for three and a half years I took part in the operation evaluation of this jet back in 1980 at Naval Weapons Center China Lake. Now I didn%u2019t like the plane, but that was because of how it was rammed down the Navy*s throat at the time. In reality, all aircraft usually have unforeseen problems, and with the F/A-18 it was the APU*s (Aux. Power Supply) were blowing up and the fact that it couldn%u2019t fly past a gas station without filling up. Because some test pilots said it had no legs cost them their careers is the other reason. The APU problem was fixed and I heard that the flying range problem was cured, but I can%u2019t swear to that part. On the other side of the fence, this plane is a pilot*s flying dream. Light attack pilots went from single engine A-4*s (Sen. McCain%u2019s old bird) and A-7*s (I came from them prior to the 18*s) to two engines on a plane that can fly on ONE engine.

part 1
It was reported that a congressional aide said both engines of the F/A-18D jet fighter failed before the aircraft crashed. Why was an %u201Caid%u201D briefed and allowed to leak this information? That%u2019s the first thing.

The second thing is that it is impossible for both engines to fail on their own. How do I know? Well, that*s kind of simple. Twenty-one years in Naval aviation, and for three and a half years I took part in the operation evaluation of this jet back in 1980 at Naval Weapons Center China Lake. Now I didn%u2019t like the plane, but that was because of how it was rammed down the Navy*s throat at the time. In reality, all aircraft usually have unforeseen problems, and with the F/A-18 it was the APU*s (Aux. Power Supply) were blowing up and the fact that it couldn%u2019t fly past a gas station without filling up. Because some test pilots said it had no legs cost them their careers is the other reason. The APU problem was fixed and I heard that the flying range problem was cured, but I can%u2019t swear to that part. On the other side of the fence, this plane is a pilot*s flying dream. Light attack pilots went from single engine A-4*s (Sen. McCain%u2019s old bird) and A-7*s (I came from them prior to the 18*s) to two engines on a plane that can fly on ONE engine.

[duffyn]

Don''t blame military base bashing on close minded liberals. That''s nothing but a big generalization and all generalizations are wrong. Probably was a close minded connservative!!! I am sorry it happened though and I am an open minded liberal and I love the military and all kinds of weapons. mmmmmmm.... I must say a fighter jet hit a crop duster over where my bro lives and the military would admit nothing and paid nothing either.

[shelnbud]

It really gets me that when something bad happens, everyone is so quick to place blame. I don''t fly, but I do know what happens to an aircraft of that caliber when both engines fail.It turns into one big brick. It does not glide it falls like a dead bird. The pilot had no control. He had to bail out. He will have to deal with this the rest of his life and will probably blame himself over and over. I am sure he did everything in his power to get that plane back to base. For all of you who think bases should be closed because of accidents like these, you are fools. This base was built back in WWI for any of you who care to check history. These homes were built decades after the base. Actually built around the base. Whose fault is it now? I am tired of the military bashing. Freedom is not free, and it is these men and women who make it possible for you closed minded liberals to place blame on everyone else!

[hatesthecolt]

I read on another site where he tried to avoid crashing into the homes and was not able to maneuver the plane away, he was devastated by what happened. Not always possible in these cases when you fly in so low for the approach.

Posted by missybelle

It will be interesting to see what the flight data recorder shows.

[hatesthecolt]

ou seem to have a "captain goes down with the ship mentality" which is ridiculous.

Posted by tipsyinct

It wasn''t meant to be an argument, it was anecdotal evidence; if it makes you feel better, I KNOW I read about that incident and my spouse also recalls the same event. And you disregard the other two excerpts; others made the higher choice.

And yes I DO have a "captain goes down with the ship" mentality. Candidates go through h ell to get the status and pay associated with those pilot slots. They should take the responsibility that goes with it. He let go of control of a missile. He should have ridden it all the way to the ground or close to it.

[missybelle-2009]

know I read of a case about 10 years ago of a military pilot who, after a mid air collision, nursed the damaged plane back out to sea. I am pretty sure it was also in San Diego. So I will be interested to see what happened here and why things were so catastrophic that he couldn''''t do anything.


Posted by hatesthecolt at 11:48 AM : Dec 09, 2008

I read on another site where he tried to avoid crashing into the homes and was not able to maneuver the plane away, he was devastated by what happened. Not always possible in these cases when you fly in so low for the approach.

[tipsyinct]

I know I read of a case about 10 years ago of a military pilot who, after a mid air collision, nursed the damaged plane back out to sea. I am pretty sure it was also in San Diego. So I will be interested to see what happened here and why things were so catastrophic that he couldn''''t do anything.
Posted by hatesthecolt at 11:48 AM : Dec 09, 2008

First of all, saying I think I read something somewhere is not an argument, second there are certain circumstances you can have enough control over a plane like that, going that fast, to be able to "steer the crash". If the plane goes into a spin however, which is what eyewitnesses saw the plane doing, the pilot has no control at all. You seem to have a "captain goes down with the ship mentality" which is ridiculous.

[hatesthecolt]

Missybelle: See for example--

http://www.goodnewsblog.com/2008/03/31/pilot-hailed-as-hero-after-british-jet-crash-into-house
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/feb/29/local/me-plane29

I know I read of a case about 10 years ago of a military pilot who, after a mid air collision, nursed the damaged plane back out to sea. I am pretty sure it was also in San Diego. So I will be interested to see what happened here and why things were so catastrophic that he couldn''t do anything.

[tipsyinct]

you either need to raise your standards of a "great" country or open your eyes a little more. we could be the best in the world but that still doesn''''t equate to being a "great" country. we have a lot of good things just like we have a lot of bad things, same could be said for any country... but to those oppressed by those in powers policy''''s think otherwise. examples: those who love the right to bare arms no matter what think any control is a violation of their freedom, just as any laws restricting a women''''s right to choice are a violation to somebody that is pro-choice, but to those on the other side of the coin have a totally different perspective to it!
Posted by mrvolleyba11 at 08:18 PM : Dec 08, 2008

Everything you just said is the reason why this country is a great country. There''s no way to make everybody happy, but the right to express your happiness, or even more importantly your unhappiness, is a freedom you seem to be taking for granted. I am not ignorant to the fact that we are a country who has problems, We will ALWAYS have problems, the reason we are a GREAT country is because we have the right, nay the obligation, to express our disagreements openly and publicly.

You are the second person to disagree with me that america is great, the ABILITY to SAY that contradicts that very statement.

[hatesthecolt]

Missybelle: Article only says so far that the plane crashed near Interstate 805 around noon Monday about two miles from the base as it prepared to land. I will agree we don''t know enough from that statement, but the pilot should know the reality of landing vs. crashing if he is worth his salt, and if it''s not realistic to land it, he needs to get it the he ll out of a populated area.

[missybelle-2009]

Missybelle it is you who are jumping to conclusions. Things like planes don''''t just "break" all of a sudden. He said he was having problems. There are plenty of stories of pilots who managed to get planes out populated areas before they went down. It doesn''''t look like this guy even tried.

James, thanks, that''''s high praise coming from you! I see I got under your skin!

Posted by hatesthecolt at 09:27 AM : Dec 09, 2008

That might also have been the problem, and I''d think that trying to land the plane would be the first choice, which is what he was trying to do. Less loss of life that way, right???? See where this is going?

[hatesthecolt]

Are you high or really this ignorant? I''''''''d love to believe you''''''''re being facetious, but I don''''''''t think so. It comes to mind that perhaps the pilot had absolutely NO control over the aircraft, especially in light of the fact that the homes that were hit are right in the flight path...



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Posted by missybelle at 08:48 AM : Dec 09, 2008


if you have read his other posts on here you would know it is ignorance....nobody can be high that many times

Posted by jamesm12341

Missybelle it is you who are jumping to conclusions. Things like planes don''t just "break" all of a sudden. He said he was having problems. There are plenty of stories of pilots who managed to get planes out populated areas before they went down. It doesn''t look like this guy even tried.

James, thanks, that''s high praise coming from you! I see I got under your skin!

[big_family1]

We should be thinking about what can be done for the families in the neighborhood. Esp the ones that lost loved ones.

[missybelle-2009]

What''''s wrong with that pilot??? He should have ensured that the plane was not going to hit anything before he bailed out. If he had time to float down, he had time to steer that thing out to sea or out to an unpopulated area.

Posted by hatesthecolt at 08:40 AM : Dec 09, 2008

Are you high or really this ignorant? I''d love to believe you''re being facetious, but I don''t think so. It comes to mind that perhaps the pilot had absolutely NO control over the aircraft, especially in light of the fact that the homes that were hit are right in the flight path...

[hatesthecolt]

What''s wrong with that pilot??? He should have ensured that the plane was not going to hit anything before he bailed out. If he had time to float down, he had time to steer that thing out to sea or out to an unpopulated area.

[bailthisout]

No need to concern yourselves - would recommend you worry about the thugs killing five people in San Diego last night rather than a jet fighter accident.

[whiskyrokr]

Planes crash sometimes. The cost of freedom doesn''t come cheap.