Define credible eyewitness reports. It could have easily been that his seat pan was still attached. Given the late/immediate ejection its not surprising that the seat pan wasn't manually released by the aircrew. By definition, seat man separation occurs when the main chute deploys both in the SJU and NACES seat at that altitude. But the AMB will figure all of that out.

 

what ↑ said.

Glad nobody was seriously hurt.

 

Can they dump fast enough to even bother in a situation like that?

Could the fuel "dumping" have been simply been an unlit engine blowing gas out the back?

 

No. The last thing you want to do in a high altitude ejection is to have your seat separate and your chute inflate way up there. Think dying from exposure as you float to earth
Low altitude - yes the seat should have separated right away.
I don't have my old NATOPS handy for reference so BGDER or Grumble (or the new user usmchornetpilot - welcome) will have to look it up for the specifics (and possibly prove that my memory if failing!)

rickair - whether it was warranted or not I'll leave for the AMB to figure out. I'll say in some scenarios it is a good idea. I once had a main fuel line in the gear well come apart shortly after takeoff from NAF El Centro and I'm sure it would have looked to 'credible eyewitnesses' like I was dumping (on purpose) except for the fact that it wasn't coming from the dump masts.

USMCFLYR

 

This is the version of the story being told in Australia [basically the same] it includes the pictures you mentioned; the exhaust nozzles and ejector seat..

Fighter jet crashes into US apartment block - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)


this is the street address for those among you whom want to google earth/maps the location;

1001 Fleming Circle, Virginia Beach, Va. 23451 It is just off Birdneck Road.

 

You made my brain hurt decoding that!

 

What's A-F, besides the Japanese WWII code for Midway, who needs a new fresh water condenser (Tora, Tora, Tora). Not trying to diminish the severity of the situation, just trying to decode.

thx

 

Models A-F:
A - first single-seat model (up through Lot 9 IIRC)
B - first two-seat trainer
C - updated single-seat (Lot 10-21)
D - updated two-seat trainer (USN/USMC training squadrons)
D - USMC VMFA(AW) fleet aircraft - missionized two-seaters (think F-15E like) (Different LOT numbers between 12-17 that I can remember at least but I didn't pay too much attention)
E - Super Hornet single seaters
F - Super two-seat trainers (see Note)
F - USN two-seat missionized (think replacement for the F-14s - with more capability)

Note: BDGER - I'm assuming there are trunk stick and throttle model Fs in the FRSs too. Correct?

USMCFLYR

 

Thanks - semantics got me, as in teaching A-F (Air to ?) vs the A-F models.

 

Yes we have Fs with a stick, referred to as F/T(functional trainer) and missionized F's with hand controllers and foot pedals vice a stick known as F/S (functional system). F/Ts are used for intro hops (think early stage FFAM/FBFM/LATT) and are crewed up with IPs rather than IWSOs.