Military jet crashes in Deerfield, Virginia

[allingeneral]

A military jet (an F-15) has crashed in western Virginia and State Police are en route to the scene, authorities tell The Associated Press.

Augusta County Sheriff's Office dispatcher Becky Coynter said witnesses reported hearing a loud noise that sounded like an explosion just before 9 a.m. Wednesday in Deerfield.

Coynter said authorities don't know whether anyone was injured in the crash.

A news release from state police says officials located the crash site, with heavy smoke coming from the side of a mountain. The statement says state and local police are trying to reach the site. Police did not offer other details.

Note: Augusta County is West of Charlottesville.

[MarcSpaz]

Looks like the pilot is missing..

http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/ ... story.html

[SpanishInquisition]

The pilot is now reported as a fatality.

RIP, sir.

[mamabearCali]

The pilot is now reported as a fatality.

RIP, sir.

Pretty sad. Chris got 1/2 way out there (CAP ground search team) and was sent home. Such a tradgedy for his family and a downer for those who were trying so hard to find him.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Viper21]

I actually heard the plane fly over before it crashed. Was working outside approx 15 miles from where it crashed. Sounded low when he flew over us.

[Palladin]

I wondered if he might have rode it out to avoid a populous area...

Rest in Peace, brother.

[PistolPilot]

Aviation forum I'm on has a controller from Washington enroute control (controls high altitude from Philly to Wilmington, NC to Rockingham, NC to Clarksburg, WV) on it that heard through the grapevine that he first declared an emergency at 43,000 feet. When asked by the controller what the nature of the emergency was, the pilot simply said "standby". Less than 2 minutes later, they lost radar contact as he plummeted below radar coverage (around 6,000 get in that area). That's a descent rate of about 20,000 feet per minute. Your average airline comes down at about 1,500-3,000 fpm under normal scenarios.

For what it's worth, time of useful consciousness when there is a rapid decompression is less than 10 seconds at 43,000. If a canopy seal blows out, and you're slow to get the mask on, it's lights out...