2 Navy pilots dead after collision in Oregon

[binny]

so sad Looking for link now.

one survivor.

 

[binny]

http://www.ktvb.com/news/topstories/stories/ktvbn-july2104-military_crash.113f67fd.html

Military jets collide over Columbia Gorge; one pilot survives

05:17 PM MDT on Wednesday, July 21, 2004


By TERESA BELL, ABE ESTIMADA and ANTONIA GIEDWOYN, kgw.com Staff



ARLINGTON Ore. –- Conflicting reports from the Oregon National Guard and Gilliam county authorities say at least two F-18 Hornet aircraft collided over the Gorge, and at least one pilot has survived.




Witnesses said the military jets that collided looked like this Navy F-18 Hornet. (File Photo)
Gilliam county authorities say there were as many as three aircraft over the area about 2:30 p.m. At least one pilot parachuted and came down south of Interstate 84 and suffered a leg injury, said KGW meteorologist Dave Salesky.


Another pilot landed in the Columbia River and may not have surviverd the ejection from the aircraft, he said.


One pilot parachuted into the hills above the Gorge and is alive, said KGW meteorologist Dave Salesky, who saw the explosion over Interstate 84 about 2:30 p.m.


Capt. Mike Braibish of the Oregon National Guard said two F-18s collided in the area and that three pilots were involved in the accident.


The F-18s are based in Miramar, Calif, Braibish said. The Guard is launching a helicopter from Pendleton and two helicopters from Salem to assist in the rescue, he said.


Witnesses said they saw a fireball in the sky, heavy smoke over the gorge and debris strewn over the water. Rescue crews on land, river and air were searching the area near Boardman.


Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson Nancy Corey said two parachutes were also seen, but it was not clear whether the pilots had ejected safely.


“There is debris in the Columbia river from those jets when they collided,” Salesky said.“The air out here is thick with jet fuel over I-84.”


Corey said rescue personnel are in route to the crash.


One of the pilots landed in the river, while the other landed within Arlington city limits, according to Deputy Chris Fitzsimmons with the Gilliam County Sheriff's office.


Rescue personnel were en route to the crash, Corey said.


Witnesses reported hearing a "big boom," then seeing a fiery explosion in the sky, said Fitzsimmons, the agency's emergency management coordinator.


Witness John Woodward, described seeing a blast in the sky.


“I saw the plane and then a flash in the sky and saw the plane plummet with lots of thick smoke and the plane spiral toward earth, and then I noticed a parachute," Woodward said. "I followed it... got to the entry point in the Columbia River, probably five or six miles away, watched a boat pulled a gentleman out of the water…His parachute was deployed but he hit the water pretty hard."


Fitzsimmons said debris from the planes landed as far away as Interstate 84, eight miles south of Arlington.


Yvonne Arbogast, a spokeswoman for the Mid-Columbia Medical Center in The Dalles, said she "did not know yet," whether the pilots would be sent to that hospital.


"They haven't arrived anywhere yet," she said.

 

[Efastpitch]

Very sad. Even training to defend our country is very dangerous. God bless our military and their families.

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

My Dad lives out there on the Washington side of the River, haven't heard from him yet but I know he was home today, I wonder if he saw anything.

We were staying at a hotel by the airport in Portland over the weekend, there were fighter jets taking off frequently, the kids thought it was so cool.

Very sad in any case.

 

[JimB.]

"An Airman's Prayer"


God guard and guide us as we fly
Through the great spaces of the sky;
Be with us as we take to air
In morning light and sunshine fair.
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Give us courage and make us brave;
Protect us whereso'er we go,
From shell and flak and fire and foe.
Most loved member of our crew.
Ride with us up in the blue.
Direct our bombs upon the foe
But shelter those whom Thou dost know.
Keep us together on our way,
Grant our work success today.
Deliver us from hate and sin,
And bring us safely down again.
O God protect us as we fly
Through lonely ways across the sky.



Fair Winds and Following Seas to my fallen shipmates.......

 

[legs22]

Very sad.

I am watching the movie Top Gun tonight when I read this thread.

 

[katerkat]

Very sad. DH was actually flying over Oregon when it happened. They got the signal, but there was nothing they could do to help.

 

[Dan Murphy]

So very sad, God bless.