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Seatbelt came undone before Snowbird crash
Updated Mon. Aug. 20 2007 12:51 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
A report into the fatal crash of a jet from the Snowbirds aerobatic squadron says the pilot lost control of his plane when his seatbelt became unfastened.
Capt. Shawn McCaughey was killed May 18 during an air show practice at Malmstrom Air Force Base near Great Falls, Mont.
The interim investigator's report says McCaughey was flying upside down during a pre-show practice session when his seatbelt came unfastened, he fell out of his seat and lost control of his Tutor jet.
The crash occurred during an inverted pass about 22 minutes into the show, when the No. 2 aircraft dipped low, wavered, and left the formation inverted.
The report says the aircraft climbed, then rolled upright before nosing over at about 750 feet above ground level.
McCaughey's plane hit the ground at about 45 degrees nose down. He never ejected from the aircraft.
The four-paragraph summary says the probe will now focus on how the seatbelt came loose.
According to the summary, preventive measures are already being implemented, including changes to the pilot restraint system, to the aircraft operating instructions and enhanced training for aircrew and passengers.
The Snowbirds aerobatic team has dedicated its season to McCaughey.
McCaughey is the third Snowbird pilot to die since 1998 and the sixth in the squadron's 35-year history.
He was replaced by Capt. Paul Couillard, a veteran of five seasons with the Snowbirds.
Courtesy a very un-inquisitive CTV news bureau.***************
Does this particular excuse provide holes in it. And on so many levels. CTV reporters are so gullible on this one.
Its not just an ordinary seat belt. Its a full restraint harness. I've looked at a jet harness and it is a star harness, almost the same kind as race car drivers have worn for years. So they are telling you and me, that a pilot going inverted:
1. Doesn't check his harness.
2. That all four snaps failed all at once. He was flying inverted.
3. Isn't the plane's tech supposed to check this harness at spool up?
3. No where did the story indicate positive G's on this maneuver. I mean, simply a 1 G. Positive broke all four or more straps at the same instant?
This story trotted out by our military simply absolutely stinks. They better invent a better one. I used to work as a free lance stringer and the military claim is total crap and a big disservice to the pilot's family.
How about this? He got sick. Or he may have had a stroke. Or heart attack. All those cut the grass, not the seat belt crap.
And no where does the reporter ask the most pertinent question...Like who tested the broken belts? Which Lab? Is there an independent accident investigator? What tests were conducted to duplicate the incident? What flight models were used? ...and so on.
Come on CTV, hire fewer news readers* and hire some real reporters. You're giving the military a pass on this one.
(I wanted to word it such as this "... hire fewer news readers with larger IQs than their bra sizes." But it was dicey to get this comment approved and they actually might have one with a 56DD)
(Note: After ten minutes... this comment placed to CTV, wasn't published.)
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