SPATIAL DISORIENTATION CAUSES F-15A CRASH

  • Published
  • By Air Combat Command News Service
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. --  A pilot's spatial disorientation during an air combat training mission caused an F-15A Eagle to crash approximately 42 nautical miles west of Arch Cape, Ore., in the Pacific Ocean on June 26 Air Force officials announced in late September.

The pilot of the aircraft died immediately on impact and was the only crewmember aboard the single-seat fighter aircraft. The mishap occurred during a dissimilar air combat training mission with F/A-18s from Naval Air Station Fort Worth, Texas.

Spatial disorientation occurs when a pilot's response to false sensations, attitude, motion, velocity, acceleration or position causes the pilot to misinterpret his or her position in flight relative to the earth or other aircraft.

The pilot was assigned to the 123rd Fighter Squadron, 142nd Fighter Wing, with the Oregon Air National Guard.