Blue Angel Down In Smyrna, TN

[Reggie]

Reports of a Blue Angel crash in Smyrna, TN during a practice for this week's show.

No word on the aviator.

Prayers for both teams.

Reggie

[MIKE JG]

He either rode it in or didn't have time to get out, very sad day for the Blues and the whole community, also very weird with the TBird F-16 down as well.

[Jon]

Odd coincidence both were the number 6 aircraft

http://www.krdo.com/news/Blue-Angels-pi ... o/39873602

[MIKE JG]

Final accident report: https://news.usni.org/wp-content/upload ... n=download

Doesn't reflect well on the accident pilot or the Blue Angel organization itself. Hopefully all if not the majority of the investigators recommendations will be incorporated into the team. Hard to believe they have a hard time finding people to fill their various team positions.

[Victory103]

I just don't understand the 540 degree roll. Like other AIB reports, another tough read.

[maverick69]

I just don't understand the 540 degree roll. Like other AIB reports, another tough read.

I think it means one complete roll and an half (360+180=540)

[MIKE JG]

I think what Chris means is that this pilot was known to be meticulous, by the book. He went and deviated from the program by completing a full one and a half rolls to get to the inverted. That doesn't sound like something someone with his reputation would do. He also forgot to sign for the aircraft that afternoon before going up. Again not something that someone who is meticulous and by the book would normally do, especially under the scrutiny of being on a team like the Blue Angels.

The whole thing doesn't make much sense.

[stovepipe707]

Final accident report: https://news.usni.org/wp-content/upload ... n=download

Doesn't reflect well on the accident pilot or the Blue Angel organization itself. Hopefully all if not the majority of the investigators recommendations will be incorporated into the team. Hard to believe they have a hard time finding people to fill their various team positions.

How is this accident a "bad reflection" on the The Blue Angels? The pilot was outside S.O.P. And was cross checked by ground at the comcart. Pilot error, plain and simple. There will be accidents in the future. By nature of the game, this business is terribly unforgiving. It hardly sheds any negative light on the organization and I completely reject your uninformed assertion.

[swp53]

Stovepipe707
Read the report it says there were failings in the Blue Angel S.O.P's and a number of issues need to be tightened up.

[MIKE JG]

You might completely reject it but it's not my assertion, it's the assertion of the accident investigator straight from the report.