CF18 crash @ Cold Lake

[Oscar]

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/edmo ... -1.3871270

A CF18 has reportedly crashed near Cold Lake and they are looking for the pilot.

['97 Tercel]

Just read on ctv.ca that pilot was killed.

Brutal.

[mbav8r]

It appears they must have found the pilot, as don't know how they would know he didn't survive otherwise, RIP!
"A CF-18 fighter jet has crashed near Cold Lake, Alberta.

The pilot did not survive, according to an RCAF commander.

Canadian Forces said on Twitter it has dispatched a helicopter crew to the Cold Lake Training Area to begin the search for the wreckage.

A military spokesperson said the plane was based out of Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake.

Officials declined to provide further details on the identity of the pilot, saying that officials were still in the process of notifying next of kin."

[anofly]

I thank those that go into harms way to look after the rest of us. Zipping around in a ground attack fighter has always had a fair amount of risk , even in training. There is a steady toll.... Condolences to family and friends

[xsbank]

Canada has lost one of our protectors and I wish that my words could provide some comfort.

"Dulce et decorum est, pro patria mori..."

[Rockie]

Very sad to hear. My sympathies go out to the pilot's family, friends and comrades in Cold Lake.

[trey kule]

One of the best Canadians gone today,
My heart grieves for those he left behind.

[Rookie50]

My condolences for this tragedy and for all those affected. Your service is not forgotten.

[Mick G]

I assume this was a single seat, but does anybody know for sure if it was single or dual...if so, did the other crewman eject?

[ZBBYLW]

I assume this was a single seat, but does anybody know for sure if it was single or dual...if so, did the other crewman eject?

Apparently it was a single seat jet according to a pr type for the airforce.

[Kitzbuhel]

I assume this was a single seat, but does anybody know for sure if it was single or dual...if so, did the other crewman eject?

Apparently it was a single seat jet according to a pr type for the airforce.

Single Seat. Good chute reported, found deceased on SAR arrival.

[AirFrame]

Single Seat. Good chute reported, found deceased on SAR arrival.

That seems unusual. I thought a chute ride was almost guaranteed survival, if it was fully opened high enough AGL.

Is it cold enough in Cold Lake right now for it to be possible the pilot succumbed to the elements?

In any case, sad to hear... Condolences to any friends and family who may be watching.

[Rockie]

Single Seat. Good chute reported, found deceased on SAR arrival.

That seems unusual. I thought a chute ride was almost guaranteed survival, if it was fully opened high enough AGL.

Is it cold enough in Cold Lake right now for it to be possible the pilot succumbed to the elements?

In any case, sad to hear... Condolences to any friends and family who may be watching.

The CLAWR and surrounding area is forested. Escaping the airplane safely is no guarantee you will land safely, and it's not known if the pilot was injured somehow before ejection. Have to wait for the report.

[ZBBYLW]

Single Seat. Good chute reported, found deceased on SAR arrival.

That seems unusual. I thought a chute ride was almost guaranteed survival, if it was fully opened high enough AGL.

Is it cold enough in Cold Lake right now for it to be possible the pilot succumbed to the elements?

In any case, sad to hear... Condolences to any friends and family who may be watching.

They have gyrostabalizing (I believe the name is) Seats so even if you're off axis at low AGL you should be safe in that circumstance. Take a look at the YQL air display crash. Was super low and banked heavily and he had a successful outcome.

Very unfortunate to hear he punched out without a good outcome. I wish his family best wishes.

[Kitzbuhel]

Single Seat. Good chute reported, found deceased on SAR arrival.

That seems unusual. I thought a chute ride was almost guaranteed survival, if it was fully opened high enough AGL.

Is it cold enough in Cold Lake right now for it to be possible the pilot succumbed to the elements?

In any case, sad to hear... Condolences to any friends and family who may be watching.

It isn't very cold right now no. They got there pretty quick. Nothing but speculation at this time as to what went wrong. Very sad time for all.

[Gannet167]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/ ... -1.3872347

[frosti]

I assume this was a single seat, but does anybody know for sure if it was single or dual...if so, did the other crewman eject?

Apparently it was a single seat jet according to a pr type for the airforce.

Single Seat. Good chute reported, found deceased on SAR arrival.

Lets not jump to conclusions before the official report is released.

[Gannet167]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/ ... -1.3884920

[Heliian]

I thought a chute ride was almost guaranteed survival,

It never is, it's just a better option than riding the plane in. An article I just read puts the survival rate at about 92%. However, the same article then states a 1 in 3 chance of spinal fracture among other serious injuries. The following article goes into a case study of injuries during an ejection event: http://emj.bmj.com/content/17/5/371.full

[ettw]

An ex RAF guy I worked with said "you only pull the handles because you know you'll die if you don't".

I think that sums the ejection seat option pretty clearly.

ETTW

[AirFrame]

I thought a chute ride was almost guaranteed survival,

It never is, it's just a better option than riding the plane in. An article I just read puts the survival rate at about 92%. However, the same article then states a 1 in 3 chance of spinal fracture among other serious injuries.

Thanks for that, and the link. I had no idea the risk was that great, even if ejecting did kill Goose in Top Gun. The impression i've had for years is that you might be battered and bruised from the kick in the pants, the wind blast, the eject from the seat, etc. but you'd make it. Of course, assuming you have the altitude to use it, the aircraft is intact enough for it to work, etc.

I suppose 92% could be considered "almost guaranteed", but still I figured it was around 99%.

[bodyflyer2]

I suppose 92% could be considered "almost guaranteed", but still I figured it was around 99%.

I would guess 99% is probably closer to the mark in "easy ejections".

Figures out there probably vary a lot. The 92% didn't appear in the BMJ article mentioned earlier, and the stats in that ("80-97%") were from Bulgaria up to 1993 -- not the most applicable set of stats. The article was more about spinal care for ejectees so the doctors weren't apparently concerned with hunting down the latest western stats.

The problems probably occur as ejections get closer to the edge of the envelope, and then it can a bit of a debate on how well the ejection seat should have worked, when the conditions are nastier.

Still, ejections can fail for reasons other than being too low. Off the top of my head:
- the Brit Red Arrows guy accidentally ejecting on the ground some years back and dying - Should have been alive but a clevis pin had been overtightened (with poor maintenance info available), preventing the parachute from deploying
- the Cdn Forces F-18 pilot, I dunno, 15 years back? Who ejected while rolling rapidly and at high speed after some control system issues. Was it "out of the envelope" or not? In any case there was a riser strike to his head during the asymmetrical canopy deployment that killed him, something like that.

In summary, I think any percentage one sees will vary a lot with the conditions included in the data.

[Mick G]

I suppose 92% could be considered "almost guaranteed", but still I figured it was around 99%.

I would guess 99% is probably closer to the mark in "easy ejections".

Figures out there probably vary a lot. The 92% didn't appear in the BMJ article mentioned earlier, and the stats in that ("80-97%") were from Bulgaria up to 1993 -- not the most applicable set of stats. The article was more about spinal care for ejectees so the doctors weren't apparently concerned with hunting down the latest western stats.

The problems probably occur as ejections get closer to the edge of the envelope, and then it can a bit of a debate on how well the ejection seat should have worked, when the conditions are nastier.

Still, ejections can fail for reasons other than being too low. Off the top of my head:
- the Brit Red Arrows guy accidentally ejecting on the ground some years back and dying - Should have been alive but a clevis pin had been overtightened (with poor maintenance info available), preventing the parachute from deploying
- the Cdn Forces F-18 pilot, I dunno, 15 years back? Who ejected while rolling rapidly and at high speed after some control system issues. Was it "out of the envelope" or not? In any case there was a riser strike to his head during the asymmetrical canopy deployment that killed him, something like that.

In summary, I think any percentage one sees will vary a lot with the conditions included in the data.

Don't forget when the RIO Goose hit the canopy when caught up elejecting from a flat spin.

[trey kule]

Don't forget when the RIO Goose hit the canopy when caught up elejecting from a flat spin.

And here I thought that was just a Hollywood movie.

I will have to defer to your obvious experience and understanding of modern fighters, and agree it is an accurate representation that we can all refer to..

[Illya Kuryakin]

A stark reminder that these things are dangerous. Training has always been more dangerous than combat. More pilots lost their lives in WWII trading accidents than were killed in combat. Fly safe everybody.
Illya