LivingInMEM

The easiest source to quote is the one in the very first post: http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-je...,1115206.story

According to documents obtained by The Virginian-Pilot, Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Condon and Lt. Cmdr. Marc Fryman reported the breach immediately after landing. The Navy quickly convened an evaluation board to consider whether they should continue flying.

The board found that they chose to fly using barometric altitude measurements (feet above sea level) instead of radar altitude measurements (feet above ground level) but failed to adjust their low-altitude warning systems accordingly.

By the time the alarm sounded, the pilots didn't have enough time to correct the mistake.

Although the pilots "inexplicably failed to recognize" how low they were flying, the board concluded, their lapse was neither intentional nor malicious. It recommended putting both pilots on probation, an outcome endorsed and forwarded up multiple levels of the chain of command.

Despite the scuttlebutt of lying, I doubt that any officer would risk his/her career or reputation by covering up an intentional flight discipline issue of someone else and sending it up the chain.

Grumble

Knowing the flight lead in question, I would find it very hard to believe he would lie about anything. If he did, it would be the first time I've heard of.

bunk22

That is quite disheartning. The pilot who lost his wings with VT-6 was found not at fault with his FNAEB as well. Talking to the XO of 6 at the time though, his attitude during the meetnig with CNATRA didn't help his situation. Not saying this was the case with these two guys. CNATRA did not agree with the board, gave him a B2.

Grumble

So what did the -6 guy do to earn a FNAEB? And how did he go from the FNAEB not finding him at fault, all the way to a B2?

bunk22

He was accused of flat hatting over the water. He was practicing LAPL's at one of the unmanned OLF's, waiting for a t-storm over Whiting to dissapate. He was seen turning at extreme angle's of bank over the water, well below 500'. His claime was he was practicing LAPL's at the airfield and ditching scenario's from the pattern. I had been to that OLF as an IP under instruction and we practiced low altitude stuff, including ditch from the patter, out over the water. I remember the FITU IP yanking and banking when he took controls as well. Common practice.

Grumble

So it was legit training, but how did he go from the board having his back, to B2????

bunk22

The Commodore was a guy who seemed to not like aviators. His motivational speech was pretty much, you screw up just a little, I'll take your wings. His favorite thing to say was you're seconds from losing your wings. He even stated he regulary drove down to the flight line to look for IP's messing up. Not sure how he would know being he never flew but he threw out the threats all the time. I still have my instructor letter somewhere in which he actually highligted in it that we weren't there to train pilots, we were there to train officers. Not sure what that meant. Anyway, he was not satisfied with results of the board and dissented and CNATRA backed him. I hear the IP didn't help himself when his chance came to speak as the XO and CO were both in the room. The XO had said he pretty much went off on how the Navy and a particulary person was out to screw him. Whether he was in the wrong or not, some battles you can't win.